Echo planar imaging (EPI) is an ultrafast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique that can scan a single frame in less than a second. The aim of this study was to use the EPI technique to develop a new dynamic MRI protocol for the temporomandibular joint (TMJ).
Basic fast-field echo and EPI pulse sequences were used for dynamic studies of the TMJ. The subjects were instructed to perform spontaneous, continuous, slow opening/closing movements without visual or audio feedback. Different scanning parameter settings were explored to optimize the results.
With an opening/closing movement of approximately 6 to 7 seconds per cycle, the proposed protocol yielded a good insight into the relative motion between condyle and disc. It was also possible to see the deformation of the disc during movement.
The EPI technique is a non-invasive technique that can be used for dynamic imaging study of a slow but continuous, uninterrupted jaw movement.