OBJECTIVE: To correlate the signals and symptoms observed on clinical examination of patients with temporomandibular disorder with the results demonstrated by magnetic resonance imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty patients presenting with signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorders underwent clinical evaluation and subsequent magnetic resonance imaging. The magnetic resonance imaging studies were independently evaluated by two experienced radiologists. Magnetic resonance imaging studies consisted of 12 images in coronal, T1-weighted sequences with 3 mm-thick slices with the mouth closed, sagittal, T1- and T2-weighted sequences with both open and closed mouth positions, and on progressive opening/closing movement at 5 mm intervals, in order to demonstrate the full mandibular movement. The statistical significance between the clinical findings in the evaluation of the patients and results found on the magnetic resonance imaging studies was analyzed by means the kappa test. RESULTS: Interobserver agreement was respectively 56.7% (kappa = 0.1) and 56.7 (kappa = 0) for the left and right sides. CONCLUSION: No correlation was found between the clinical and magnetic resonance imaging findings in the diagnoses of disc displacement.

Keywords: Magnetic resonance imaging, Temporomandibular joint, Disorders