A acurácia da ultrassonografia no diagnóstico das alterações temporomandibulares

Abstract

Introduction: Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are multifactorial conditions affecting the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), leading to pain, functional limitations, and joint noises. Ultrasonography (US) has been proposed as a complementary method to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for TMJ evaluation. Objectives: - To evaluate the accuracy of ultrasound in temporomandibular joint pathology. Methods: Observational, analytical, and cross-sectional study, with a quantitative approach, carried out with 33 patients, totaling 66 temporomandibular joints (TMJs). All participants underwent anamnesis, clinical examination, and evaluation by two imaging methods: ultrasound (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the latter considered the gold standard for the diagnosis of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs). Ultrasound was performed with a high-frequency linear transducer (12 MHz), according to a standardized protocol, and the images were obtained by examiners blinded to the MRI findings. The diagnostic performance measures of USG were calculated, including sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value, and accuracy. The significance level adopted was 5% (p <0.05). Results: Considering Ultrasound as a diagnostic test, and Magnetic Resonance Imaging as the gold standard in the detection of temporomandibular disorders, it was found that the sensitivity was 98.2%, the specificity was 70.0%, the positive predictive value was 94.8%, the negative predictive value was 87.5% and the accuracy was 93.9%. Conclusion: Ultrasound has proven to be a promising method for the initial diagnosis of TMDs, as it is accessible, non-invasive, and inexpensive. Its incorporation into clinical practice can assist professionals in screening asymptomatic cases and contribute to an early diagnosis of the disease.