Evaluation of disk position and prevalence of internal derangement, in a sample of the elderly, by gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging.

OBJECTIVES

To assess disk position and the prevalence of disk displacement (DD) in a sample of the elderly by use of contrast agent-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

STUDY

DESIGN

Thirty subjects (73-75 years old) were drawn from a representative sample and examined clinically. The position and contours of the temporomandibular disk was assessed by using gadolinium-enhanced MR images which were evaluated by 2 independent raters. Statistical assessment was performed by using descriptive statistics and nonparametric tests.

RESULTS

Agreement between raters with respect to disk position was excellent. The MRI showed that 8 subjects (27%; 2 men, 6 women) had DD.

CONCLUSION

Gadolinum-enhanced MRI showed that DD is common in the elderly (27%) and that DD occurs more frequently in women than in men. In women without DD the disk is positioned more anteriorly than in men.