[Characteristics of MRI and associated pathological features of the condylar cyst like lesions in temporomandibular joint].

Objective

To analyze the MRI characteristics and pathological features of the condylar cyst like lesions in temporomandibular joint (TMJ).

Methods

The study was conducted retrospectively on TMJ images from 14 patients (2 males, 12 females, aged 10-71) who underwent MRI examinations, from January 2015 to December 2017 at Center for TMD and Orofacial Pain, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology including 2 patients with pathological results. The signals of the lesion, condylar bone and disc-condyle relationship were evaluated.

Results

Cyst like lesions of 15 condyles from 14 patients were analyzed. All of the lesions showed hypersignal on T2WI (12/12), while most of them showed hypersignal on T1WI (8/11) and PDWI (11/12). Mostly the lesions were surrounded by hyposignal linear margin (12/15), with normal condylar bone signal (13/15). Disk displacement with reduction was discovered in 3 joints, while disk displacement without reduction was discovered in 8 joints and 4 joints had normal disk-condyle relationships. The pathological components of cyst like lesions included cartilage, loose connective tissue, hemorrhage and bone tissue.

Conclusions

Differed from those of large joints like hips or knees, MRI characteristics of cyst like lesions of condyle in TMJ exhibited hypersignal imaging in both T1WI and T2WI, indicating that the components of cyst like lesions included granulation tissue, not fluid.