Volumetric differences in the temporomandibular joint in patients with condylar hyperplasia in the active and passive states: A SPECT/CT study.

This article focuses on the volumetric differences in temporomandibular joint (TMJ) structures in patients with condylar hyperplasia (CH), a progressive deforming disease affecting mandibular condyle growth, assessed through combined single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and computed tomography (CT) imaging. The study analyzed 116 image sets from CH patients and healthy controls, correlating metabolic bone activity measured by SPECT with volumetric anatomical data of the condyle, glenoid fossa, and joint space from CT and cone beam CT (CBCT). Results showed significantly greater condylar volume on the affected side in active CH, particularly in hemimandibular elongation (HE) and hybrid forms (HF), compared to passive CH and healthy controls, while glenoid cavity volumes showed fewer differences. The findings support the diagnostic value of SPECT/CT fusion imaging in distinguishing active versus passive CH states and characterizing TMJ structural changes relevant for clinical decision-making.