In this study, we focused on the relationship between the presence of the joint effusion and the morphological features of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) on MR images in youngsters. The categories of the absence of the joint effusion included no fluid and the presence of the joint effusion included minimal fluid moderate fluid, marked fluid and extensive fluid on TMJ sagittal MR images. Multivariate analysis was used to determine the etiological factors of the presence of the joint effusion on MR images.
The results of this study indicated that the presence of the joint effusion on MR images related to the severe and intermediate anterior disc displacement, deformed articular eminence, anterior disc displacement without reduction and biplanar disc configuration. This study concluded that the presence of the joint effusion on MR images highly correlated to TMJ internal derangement such as disc configuration and morphological feature of the articular eminence.