A potential reference point for assessment of condylar bone marrow of the temporomandibular joint on proton density weighted images.

The purpose of this research was to determine a potential reference point for measurement of signal intensity of bone marrow of the condyle on proton density-weighted images (PDW) prior to analysis of bone marrow abnormality related to symptomatic osteoarthritis of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). The study was based on 79 joints in 41 patients. The regions of interest (ROI) were placed over the bone marrow of the condyle and four other structures, It was hypothesized that a correlation between signal intensity of ROI over bone marrow and that of another structure would provide a potential reference point4or measurement of signal intensity of bone marrow. A significant positive linear correlation was found in the group for gray matter-1 and bone marrow. The correlation coefficient was 0.3 (Pearson correlation coefficient; p < 0.05). It was determined that gray matter is a potential reference point in evaluating the signal intensity of bone marrow in the mandibular condyle.