Relationship between Joint Effusion and Lymphadenopathy in Temporomandibular Disorders

Abstract

Objectives : Joint effusion in temporomandibular disorders is a pathological accumulation of synovial fluid caused by inflammatory conditions. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between cervical lymphadenopathy and the occurrence of joint effusion in patients with temporomandibular disorders. Methods : The study subjects were 133 patients with temporomandibular disorders who underwent MR imaging. MR imaging techniques used included oblique sagittal proton density and T2-weighted imaging and axial short TI inversion recovery (STIR) imaging. Joint effusion was classified by grading system on T2-weighted oblique sagittal images. On STIR axial images, the number of cervical lymph nodes and their short-axis diameter were observed on a workstation, and they were categorized into “without fluid” and “with fluid” groups on the basis of the presence or absence of joint effusion. Results : The results suggested a correlation between joint effusion and the mean number and size of spinal accessory nodes and Rouvière's lymph nodes, particularly among patients over 31 years. Conclusion : These findings suggest that the occurrence of joint effusion in patients with temporomandibular disorders increases the incidence of spinal accessory nodes and Rouvière's lymph nodes.