High resolution spin-echo imaging of the temporomandibular joint

High resolution thin section (1.5 mm thick) spin echo images (HRSE) with narrow bandwidth of TMJ were compared to the conventional (3 mm thick) spin echo images (CSE) in 20 symptomatic patients. Our results revealed that the disk delineation was superior with HRSE and the degree of confidence in making the diagnosis was significantly higher with HRSE than with CSE. Narrow bandwidth, high resolution spin echo technique offers better anatomic detail in the TMJ, resulting in improved degree of confidence, without penalty in additional imaging time.