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An ultrasound working table as diagnostic tool of temporomandibular joint inflammation
Serena Guiducci1, Maria Angela Bagni1, Sara Torracchi1
1Division of Rheumatology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Viale Largo Brambilla 3, 50134, Florence, Italy.
Purpose:
To evaluate the use of ultrasound (US) in identifying the inflammatory or not inflammatory changes in different diseases that involve the temporomandibular joint (TMJ).
Methods:
165 patients [50 Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), 30 Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA), 15 Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) and 70 Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD)] were studied by US with a linear probe 12-16 MHz (MyLABX8 eXP, ESAOTE S.p.A., Milan, Italy) placed along the axis of the mandibular branch. US results were compared with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Results:
In TMJ, US identified joint effusion (JE), as well as disc displacement and modifications of the condylar profile. The specificity of US in comparison with MRI was 90.3% for JE, 75.2% for disc displacement, and 48.1% for condylar alterations. The sensitivity of US in comparison with MRI was 92.4% in the assessment of JE, 72% in the assessment of disc displacement, and 53% in the assessment of condylar alterations.
Conclusions:
US must be performed to define the inflammatory or not inflammatory changes of TMJ in different diseases adopting a specific working table. Moreover, the resulting disability may induce a significant loss of workdays for short and close periods with consequently high cost for the health care system.
