Magnetic resonance imaging of temporomandibular joint cyst

Objective. The objective of this study was to evaluate the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and clinical findings of 6 cases with synovial or ganglion cysts occurring in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Study Design. Six patients with histopathologically confirmed TMJ cysts who were examined by MRI were included in this study. Two oral radiologists retrospectively evaluated MR images. Results. MR images revealed a homogeneous well defined mass of the TMJ in all cases. These cysts demonstrated low signal intensity on proton density-weighted (PDW) and homogeneous very high signal on T2-weighted (T2W) images. They were all characteristically continuous with the joint capsule. Regarding clinical features, all 6 patients had some type of TMJ pain. Conclusions. TMJ cysts were identified as well defined homogeneous masses with low signal intensity on PDW and very high signal on T2W images, and characterized by continuity with the joint capsule. All of the patients with TMJ cysts exhibited some type TMJ pain. (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol 2012;113:827-831)