Paulo Sérgio Flores Campos

Alternative erasing times of the DenOptix system plate: performance on the detection of proximal caries

OBJECTIVE Our aim was to investigate the DenOptix system for detection of proximal caries using alternative erasing times for the photostimulable phosphor plates. STUDY DESIGN Human teeth were X-rayed with phosphor plates using different erasing times. Five observers evaluated the images for the presence of caries by scoring the proximal surfaces of each tooth. Mean pixel intensity analyses were also carried out. The erasing times were evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Analysis of variance for differences among erasing times and pixel intensity values was performed, followed by linear regression analysis for correlation between these variables. RESULTS The mean ROC curve for each erasing time varied from 0.61 to 0.66 (not significant). Analysis of variance did not show any significant effect of the erasing times on the pixel intensity values of the images (P > .05). CONCLUSION Erasing times for DenOptix phosphor plates from 20 to 130 s were satisfactory for diagnosis of proximal caries, and their use is therefore feasible in clinical practice.

Unilateral bony ankylosis of the temporomandibular joint in a case of ankylosing spondylitis.

BackgroundAnkylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease with multiple articular and para-articular involvement that has a predilection for the axial skeleton. In spite of its high prevalence, ankylosis secondary to AS is a rare condition.Case reportA 31-year-old male diagnosed with AS was referred for computed tomography (CT) of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) due to severe mouth opening limitation. The patient had a 16-year medical history of AS and sought assistance due to TMJ pain and incapacity to open his mouth.ResultsPrevious bony scintigraphy revealed involvement of the spine, sacroiliac joints, right knee, and left TMJ. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed erosion of the left condyle and posterior slope of the articular eminence, and a mass of heterogeneous signal intensity between these structures. The left condyle also presented sclerosis/edema of the bone marrow and the disk could not be identified. Sagittal and coronal CT images showed moderate alterations of the TMJ on the right side. On the left side, the images displayed markedly eroded condyle and mandibular fossa, and a bony mass resulting in ankylosis of the osseous components of the joint.ConclusionTMJ ankylosis in AS patients is rare and very few reports have presented imaging features of the condition through advanced diagnostic techniques.