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Sensitivity of quantitative UTE MRI to the biomechanical property of the temporomandibular joint disc

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Abstract

Purpose

To quantify MR properties of discs from cadaveric human temporomandibular joints (TMJ) using quantitative conventional and ultrashort time-to-echo magnetic resonance imaging (UTE MRI) techniques and to corroborate regional variation in the MR properties with that of biomechanical indentation stiffness.

Methods

This study was exempt from the institutional review board approval. Cadaveric (four donors, two females, 74 ± 10.7 years) TMJs were sliced (n = 14 slices total) sagittally and imaged using quantitative techniques of conventional spin echo T2 (SE T2), UTE T2*, and UTE T1rho. The discs were then subjected to biomechanical indentation testing, which is performed by compressing the tissue with the blunt end of a small solid cylinder. Regional variations in MR and indentation stiffness were correlated. TMJ of a healthy volunteer was also imaged to show in vivo feasibility.

Results

Using the ME SE T2 and the UTE T1rho techniques, a significant (each p < 0.0001) inverse relation between MR and indentation stiffness properties was observed for the data in the lower range of stiffness. However, the strength of correlation was significantly higher (p < 0.05) for UTE T1rho (R2 = 0.42) than SE T2 (R2 = 0.19) or UTE T2* (R2 = 0.02, p = 0.1) techniques.

Conclusion

The UTE T1rho technique, applicable in vivo, facilitated quantitative evaluation of TMJ discs and showed a high sensitivity to biomechanical softening of the TMJ discs. With additional work, the technique may become a useful surrogate measure for loss of biomechanical integrity of TMJ discs reflecting degeneration.

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Acknowledgments

This article was made possible in part by a Veterans Affairs Merit grant (project ID 1161961) and the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research of the National Institutes of Health in support of Dr. Christine B. Chung (grant no. 5R01 DE022068), as well as the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases of the National Institutes of Health in support of Dr. Won C. Bae (grant no. K01AR059764). The contents of this article are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health or Veterans Affairs.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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VA, NIH

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, University of California-San Diego, 408 Dickinson St., San Diego, CA, 92103-8226, USA

    Won C. Bae, Reni Biswas, Sheronda Statum & Christine B. Chung

  2. Department of Bioengineering, University of California-San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., MC-0412, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0412, USA

    Robert L. Sah

  3. Department of Radiology, VA San Diego Healthcare System, 3350 La Jolla Village Dr., MC-114, San Diego, CA, 92161, USA

    Christine B. Chung

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  1. Won C. Bae
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Correspondence to Christine B. Chung.

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Bae, W.C., Biswas, R., Statum, S. et al. Sensitivity of quantitative UTE MRI to the biomechanical property of the temporomandibular joint disc. Skeletal Radiol 43, 1217–1223 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-014-1901-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-014-1901-y

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