Thermographic characterization of osteoarthrosis of the temporomandibular joint

This study assessed the use of electronic thermography in the thermal image characterization of 20 patients with osteoarthrosis of the temporomandibular joint as proven by radiographic detection of bone erosions. Thermal assessments included: pattern recognition, pattern symmetry, absolute temperature, delta T measurements, and mean temperature measurements and differences within five designated anatomic zones. In patients with osteoarthrosis of the temporomandibular joint, results demonstrated some characteristically abnormal thermal patterns; low levels of thermal symmetry; and substantially elevated absolute temperature measurements, mean temperature zone measurements, and delta T values. These observations suggest that electronic thermography may prove to be clinically useful as a diagnostic method of assessing temporomandibular joint disorders, particularly osteoarthrosis. However, more extensive studies are needed before thermographic evaluation of the temporomandibular joint will be accepted clinically.