Abstract The fact that the lateral pterygoid muscle (LPM) and related symptoms play an important role in temporomandibular disorders (TMD) is widely recognized. In the study reported here, the LPM was investigated by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of patients with TMD. The visibility of the LPM in MRI with different projections was analyzed and a new imaging projection, condyle-the lateral pterygoid muscle projection (CLPM), for the LPM in MRI was introduced. Normal and abnormal findings of the LPM was compared with clinical symptoms of TMD. Compared with sagittal imaging of temporomandibular joint (TMJ), CLPM images and most of the oblique sagittal imaging were able to show the LPM clearly. Hypertrophy, atrophy and contracture of the LPM were found in TMJs either with disc in normal position or with disc displacements. Pathological changes of the superior belly and hypertrophy of the inferior belly combined with various pathological changes of the superior belly were the most frequently observed abnormal imaging findings of the LPM in TMD. The pathological changes of the LPM were associated with the main clinical symptoms of TMD. In patients with symptomatic condyle hypermobility, the pathological changes of the LPM and related symptoms were associated with the clinical symptoms of TMJs with disc in normal position. The imaging abnormalities of the LPM were common in TMJs with disc displacements and seemed to be fewer in condyle hypomobility cases in TMJs with anterior disc displacement with non-reduction (ADDnr). However, normal imaging of the LPM was also found in TMJs with severe osteoarthritic changes and disc displacement. The recognition of muscle alterations may lead to a more specific diagnosis and improve the understanding of the clinical symptoms and disease pathophysiology of TMD.

O Músculo Pterigóideo Lateral (MPL) desempenha um papel importante nas Desordens Temporomandibulares (DTM), devido à íntima relação deste músculo com a Articulação Temporomandibular (ATM). No entanto, evidências de alterações patológicas dos músculos mastigatórios ainda parecem faltar nas pesquisas da DTM. Este estudo investigou o MPL por meio de Ressonância Magnética (RM) de 50 indivíduos com e sem DTM. Neste trabalho, das 100 ATM analisadas, 35 pacientes com DTM (70 ATM), prevalecendo o gênero feminino e 15 indivíduos sem sinais e sintomas clínicos de DTM (30 ATM) foram incluídos. O MPL foi observado e analisado em diferentes projeções. As imagens sagitais oblíquas e axiais da ATM foram capazes de mostrar os MPL claramente. Hipertrofia, atrofia e contratura do MPL foram as anomalias encontradas. Sinais de DTM, como hipermobilidade, hipomobilidade e deslocamento do disco articular puderam ser observados nas imagens de ATM. Com relação aos sintomas clínicos como dor, sons articulares, cefaléia e limitação nos movimentos mandibulares, foi possível observar que todos os pacientes com DTM apresentavam pelo menos um destes sintomas, sendo as queixas mais presentes dor e estalo; e os pacientes sem DTM também puderam mostrar alterações nas imagens de RM da ATM, como atrofia e contratura muscular, as mais observadas. O reconhecimento das alterações no MPL, podem levar a um diagnóstico mais específico e aumentar o entendimento dos sintomas clínicos e da fisiopatologia da DTM. Estudos futuros são necessários para se continuar avaliando o MPL por meio de RM. / The Lateral Pterygoid Muscle (LPM) plays an important role in Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD), due to the close relation of this muscle with the Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ). However, evidence of pathological changes of the masticatory muscles still seems to be lacking in the TMD research. This study investigated the LPM by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of 50 subjects with and without TMD. In this work, 100 Temporomandibular joints were analyzed, 35 subjects with TMD (70 TMJs), with the prevalence of female and 15 subjects without clinical signs and symptoms (30 TMJs) were included. The LPM was visible in different projections and analyzed. The oblique sagital and axial images of the TMJ were able to show the LPM clearly. Hipertrophy, atrophy and contracture of the LPM were the abnormalities found. TMD signs, such as hipermobility, hipomobility, disc displacement could be seem in the TMJ images. Related to clinical symptoms like pain, articular sounds, headache, and limitation of mandibular movements, it was possible to observed that all patients with TMD had at least one of these symptoms, pain and click being the most frequent complaint. Patients without TMD could also show alterations in the TMJ MRI, such as atrophy and contracture as the most common. The recognition of LPM alterations may lead to a more specific diagnosis and improvement of understanding of the clinical symptoms and pathophysiology of TMD. Further studies should be necessary to continue evaluating the LPM by MRI.

O Músculo Pterigóideo Lateral (MPL) desempenha um papel importante nas Desordens Temporomandibulares (DTM), devido à íntima relação deste músculo com a Articulação Temporomandibular (ATM). No entanto, evidências de alterações patológicas dos músculos mastigatórios ainda parecem faltar nas pesquisas da DTM. Este estudo investigou o MPL por meio de Ressonância Magnética (RM) de 50 indivíduos com e sem DTM. Neste trabalho, das 100 ATM analisadas, 35 pacientes com DTM (70 ATM), prevalecendo o gênero feminino e 15 indivíduos sem sinais e sintomas clínicos de DTM (30 ATM) foram incluídos. O MPL foi observado e analisado em diferentes projeções. As imagens sagitais oblíquas e axiais da ATM foram capazes de mostrar os MPL claramente. Hipertrofia, atrofia e contratura do MPL foram as anomalias encontradas. Sinais de DTM, como hipermobilidade, hipomobilidade e deslocamento do disco articular puderam ser observados nas imagens de ATM. Com relação aos sintomas clínicos como dor, sons articulares, cefaléia e limitação nos movimentos mandibulares, foi possível observar que todos os pacientes com DTM apresentavam pelo menos um destes sintomas, sendo as queixas mais presentes dor e estalo; e os pacientes sem DTM também puderam mostrar alterações nas imagens de RM da ATM, como atrofia e contratura muscular, as mais observadas. O reconhecimento das alterações no MPL, podem levar a um diagnóstico mais específico e aumentar o entendimento dos sintomas clínicos e da fisiopatologia da DTM. Estudos futuros são necessários para se continuar avaliando o MPL por meio de RM. / The Lateral Pterygoid Muscle (LPM) plays an important role in Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD), due to the close relation of this muscle with the Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ). However, evidence of pathological changes of the masticatory muscles still seems to be lacking in the TMD research. This study investigated the LPM by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of 50 subjects with and without TMD. In this work, 100 Temporomandibular joints were analyzed, 35 subjects with TMD (70 TMJs), with the prevalence of female and 15 subjects without clinical signs and symptoms (30 TMJs) were included. The LPM was visible in different projections and analyzed. The oblique sagital and axial images of the TMJ were able to show the LPM clearly. Hipertrophy, atrophy and contracture of the LPM were the abnormalities found. TMD signs, such as hipermobility, hipomobility, disc displacement could be seem in the TMJ images. Related to clinical symptoms like pain, articular sounds, headache, and limitation of mandibular movements, it was possible to observed that all patients with TMD had at least one of these symptoms, pain and click being the most frequent complaint. Patients without TMD could also show alterations in the TMJ MRI, such as atrophy and contracture as the most common. The recognition of LPM alterations may lead to a more specific diagnosis and improvement of understanding of the clinical symptoms and pathophysiology of TMD. Further studies should be necessary to continue evaluating the LPM by MRI.