To investigate the usefulness of a quantitative parameter (maximum standardised uptake value [SUVmax]) of 
Seventy-six TMD patients (male: female=14:62, age=40.3±17.1 years, bilateral: unilateral=40:36) with 152 TMJs were enrolled. The 
SUVmax was significantly greater in arthralgic TMJs than in non-arthralgic TMJs (6.62±3.56 versus 4.32±1.53, p<0.0001). SUVmax was also significantly greater in TMD osteoarthritis (6.75±3.85) than in non-TMD osteoarthritis (5.21±2.70) and asymptomatic TMJs (4.86±1.99; p=0.0386). After splint therapy, SUVmax was significantly increased in aggravated TMJs (from 7.80±3.72 to 11.00±5.74, p=0.0156), whereas no significant change in SUVmax was observed in improved (from 6.16±2.68 to 6.09±2.60, p=0.4915) and unchanged (from 6.46±4.19 to 6.77±4.32, p=0.3223) TMJs.