Evaluating the mandibular condyles of patients with osteoarthritis for bone marrow abnormalities using magnetic resonance T2 mapping

Objectives This study investigated whether erosion and osteophyte correlates with condyle bone marrow abnormalities (BMA), as detected with quantitative T2 mapping. Methods Fifty-six joints (in 44 patients) that demonstrated evidence of bony erosion (ER) or osteophytes (OS) related to disc displacement without reduction were studied with MR images. A control group of 50 joints (in 50 patients) was included. The subjects were divided into five groups; noAR (control), noBMA-ER, BMA-ER, noBMA-OS, and BMA-OS. T2 mapping was performed and the regions of interest were placed over the bone marrow at the top of the condyle. The mean T2 values of the bone marrow of the mandibular condyle were calculated for all mapping images. After assessing age-related changes in T2 values of noAR group using Pearson’s product-moment, differences in median T2 values of five groups were analyzed using Kruskal–Wallis test, and Steel–Dwass test ( p < 0.05). Results There was no significant correlation between age and T2 value in noAR group. The median T2 values of noBMA-ER and BMA-ER groups were significantly higher than those of noAR, noBMA-OS and BMA-OS groups. Those of noBMA-OS and BMA-OS groups were significantly lower than those of noAR, noBMA-ER and BMA-ER groups. There was no significant difference between noBMA and BMA groups. Conclusions It is suggested that erosion and osteophyte of the condyle may correlate with bone marrow abnormalities. T2 mapping could be show slight marrow changes of the arthritic condyle.