This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Tsuruta, A Articles by Hayashi, T Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Tsuruta, A Articles by Hayashi, T

Thickness of the roof of the glenoid fossa and condylar bone change: a CT study

¹ Division of Orthodontics, Department of Oral Biological Science, Course for Oral Life Science, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata, Japan; ² Division of Removable Prosthodontics, Department of Regeneration and Reconstruction, Course for Oral Life Science, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata, Japan; ³ Division of Oral Maxillofacial Radiology, Department of Regeneration and Reconstruction, Course for Oral Life Science, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata, Japan

*Correspondence to: Kazuhiro Yamada, Division of Orthodontics, Department of Oral Biological Science, Course for Oral Life Science, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 2-5274 Gakkocho-dori, Niigata 951-8514, Japan; E-mail: kazuhiro{at}dent.niigata-u.ac.jp

Received 17 October 2002; revised 13 February 2003; accepted 4 June 2003

Objectives:The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between the thickness of the roof of the glenoid fossa in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and the existence and types of condylar bone change.

Material and methods:Helical CT was used to measure the thickness of the roof of the glenoid fossa at its thinnest part in 37 orthodontic patients with temporomandibular disorders. Condylar bone changes were classified into four types: no bone change (24 joints); flattening (19 joints); osteophyte formation (13 joints); and erosion (18 joints).

Results:The roof of the glenoid fossa was significantly thicker in joints with bone change than in joints with no bone change (Mann–Whitney U-test, P<0.05). There was also a significant difference in relation to the type of condylar bone change: the thickness of the roof of the glenoid fossa in the erosion group was significantly greater than in the no bone change (P<0.01), flattening (P<0.05) and osteophyte formation (P<0.05) groups (Kruskal-Wallis and Games-Howell tests).

Conclusion:Compensative bone formation in the roof of the glenoid fossa might help to withstand the increased stress in the TMJ accompanying condylar bone change, especially erosion.

Keywords: roof of the glenoid fossa; condylar bone change; helical CT

This article has been cited by other articles:

				N Kijima, K Honda, Y Kuroki, J Sakabe, K Ejima, and I Nakajima Relationship between patient characteristics, mandibular head morphology and thickness of the roof of the glenoid fossa in symptomatic temporomandibular joints Dentomaxillofac. Radiol., July 1, 2007; 36(5): 277 - 281. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Cara, B. Gaia, A Perrella, J. Oliveira, P. Lopes, and M. Cavalcanti Validity of single- and multislice CT for assessment of mandibular condyle lesions Dentomaxillofac. Radiol., January 1, 2007; 36(1): 24 - 27. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K Matsumoto, K Honda, K Sawada, T Tomita, M Araki, and Y Kakehashi The thickness of the roof of the glenoid fossa in the temporomandibular joint: relationship to the MRI findings. Dentomaxillofac. Radiol., September 1, 2006; 35(5): 357 - 364. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]