Evaluation of the Lateral Pterygoid Muscle by Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Avaliação do músculo pterigóideo lateral por meio de ressonância magnética

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2009

RESUMO

The Lateral Pterygoid Muscle (LPM) plays an important role in Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD), due to the close relation of this muscle with the Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ). However, evidence of pathological changes of the masticatory muscles still seems to be lacking in the TMD research. This study investigated the LPM by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of 50 subjects with and without TMD. In this work, 100 Temporomandibular joints were analyzed, 35 subjects with TMD (70 TMJs), with the prevalence of female and 15 subjects without clinical signs and symptoms (30 TMJs) were included. The LPM was visible in different projections and analyzed. The oblique sagital and axial images of the TMJ were able to show the LPM clearly. Hipertrophy, atrophy and contracture of the LPM were the abnormalities found. TMD signs, such as hipermobility, hipomobility, disc displacement could be seem in the TMJ images. Related to clinical symptoms like pain, articular sounds, headache, and limitation of mandibular movements, it was possible to observed that all patients with TMD had at least one of these symptoms, pain and click being the most frequent complaint. Patients without TMD could also show alterations in the TMJ MRI, such as atrophy and contracture as the most common. The recognition of LPM alterations may lead to a more specific diagnosis and improvement of understanding of the clinical symptoms and pathophysiology of TMD. Further studies should be necessary to continue evaluating the LPM by MRI.

ASSUNTO(S)

lateral pterygoid muscle articulação tempomandibular músculo pterigóideo lateral ressonância magnética magnetic resonance imaging temporomandibular joint

ACESSO AO ARTIGO

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