Assessing condylar changes with digital subtraction radiography

Transcranial radiographs of the temporomandibular joint with and without simulated pathology were compared with digital subtracted and histogram equalized images of the same joints. Subtracted images had specificity and sensitivity values of 0.83 and 0.76 respectively, compared with values of 0.42 and 0.54 for conventional radiographs. It was concluded that digital subtraction radiography has the potential to increase the diagnostic yield of transcranial temporomandibular radiography for bony changes to the condylar head.