Temporomandibular joint pain and associated magnetic resonance findings: a retrospective study with a control group

Background To better understand and evaluate clinical usefulness of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in diagnosis and treatment of temporomandibular disorders (TMD), parameters for the evaluation are useful. Purpose To assess a clinically suitable staging system for evaluation of MRI of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and correlate the findings with age and some clinical symptoms of the TMJ. Material and Methods Retrospective analysis of 79 consecutive patients with clinical temporomandibular disorder or diagnosed inflammatory arthritis. Twenty-six healthy volunteers were included as controls. Existing data included TMJ pain, limited mouth opening (