Extradiskal Pathology of the Temporomandibular Joint: MR Imaging and CT Manifestations

The vast majority of imaging studies performed to evaluate pain or dysfunction of the temporomandibular joint will reveal findings related to degenerative changes, including diskal derangement. However, a variety of pathologic entities that are usually associated with the larger synovial joints of the appendicular skeleton may also affect the temporomandibular joint. When manifesting in the temporomandibular joint, the imaging features of these disease processes will typically parallel their appearance in the larger joints of the body.

Learning Objective: List 5 unusual causes of temporomandibular joint disease that may be clinically mistaken for osteoarthropathy, and describe the imaging findings that differentiate them.