Methods: A total of 48joints (45patients) with JE were investigated by MR imaging. Amount of TMJ fluid on the T2-weighted images was determined by the method of Larheim et al. and TMJ fluid in these all joints were categorized as moderate, marked, or extensive. Regions of interest were placed over JE and gray matter (GM) on FLAIR images. The joints were also categorized as normal disc position (NL), disc displacement with reduction (WR), disc displacement without reduction (WOR) and osteoarthritis (OA). The signal intensity ratios (SIRs) of JE was calculated used GM as the reference point. The Kruskal- Wallis test and Steel test were used for the statistical analysis. A probability of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: There was a statistically significance in the average SIR between the four categories. The highest average SIR was seen in the OA category. The SIR for NL categories was statistically lower than that for OA category.
Conclusions: FLAIR sequence revealed a difference in a TMJ fluid accumulation containing elements, such as protein according to the disc status.