Dynamic MRI of the temporomandibular joint at 3 Tesla using a gradient echo sequence

Introduction Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction is a cause of headache, facial pain and referred otalgia, which can be quite debilitating to patients. MRI has been applied in limited circumstances to define contours of the articular disc, and to evaluate disc motion during translation of the condyle with opening and closing of the mouth. Broad implementation of an effective protocol has been limited by lack of an effective dynamic imaging sequence having sufficient temporal resolution to evaluate joint space mechanics. Additionally, current protocols are very time intensive, which is limiting for both the patient and busy clinical practices. We seek to introduce a dynamic sequence able to capture both disc motion and contour. Implementing such a protocol may lead to earlier diagnosis and treatment of TMJ dysfunction, ultimately improving patient care. Recent dynamic TMJ studies demonstrated the feasibility of a single-shot spin echo sequence at 1.5 Tesla [1]. In this work, we report our preliminary studies on the feasibility of a real-time gradient echo (GRE) imaging at 3 Tesla.