Subjective analysis of the application of enhancement filters on magnetic resonance imaging of the temporomandibular joint

Publication date: Available online 2 December 2018

Source: Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology and Oral Radiology

Author(s): Gonzalo André Montesinos, Sérgio Lucio Pereira de Castro Lopes, Tarcila Trivino, José Andrés Sánchez, Fernando Akio Maeda, Claudio Fróes de Freitas, Andre Luiz Ferreira Costa

ABSTRACT

Objective

The aim of this research was to study the effect of enhancement filters on the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ).

Study Design

In total, 66 temporomandibular joint MRI scans were analysed without filtration and with the application of two filters: Sharpen 1 and Sharpen 2 (OnDemand software). Two dentomaxillofacial radiologists examined the original and filtered images individually. Intra- and inter-observer concordance was measured with generalized estimating equations. The observers evaluated the subjective image quality and the visibility of three components of the TMJ: disc, condyle, and articular eminence. The images were ranked on a four-point scale from poor to excellent. The image quality of all filtered images was compared by using the chi-square test and Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons.

Results

Intra- and inter-observer concordance was good. The images filtered with Sharpen 1 and Sharpen 2 provided better definition of the structures compared to non-filtered images, providing the highest scores for subjective image quality for all structures (p < 0.0001).

Conclusion

The use of enhancement filters led to improved subjective quality and may improve the diagnostic efficacy of MRI in TMJ evaluation.

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