Interexaminer reliability for tomographic findings in temporomandibular joint degenerative disease and its agreement with clinical diagnosis: a blinded controlled cross sectional study

Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate the interexaminer reliability for tomographic findings in degenerative temporomandibular joint disease and its agreement with clinical diagnosis. Methods Women aged 18 and 60 years were invited to participate in this research. All participants were evaluated by a single experienced examiner according to the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD). Group 1 was comprised of TMJs with Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD). Group 2 was comprised of healthy TMJs, without any signs and/or symptoms of TMD. All CBCT images were evaluated by 2 calibrated examiners for the image evaluation criteria but blinded for the clinical diagnosis. Results From the 194 women evaluated, 41 were included, with a mean age of 35.23 (± 14.06) years. Group 1 was comprised of 26 TMJs with DJD and group 2 of 36 asymptomatic TMJs. The interexaminer reliability was κ = 0.706 ( p < 0.000), while agreement between clinical and tomographic findings were κ = 0.301 ( p = 0.01) and κ = 0.273 ( p = 0.02) for each examiner. The use of CBCT as a diagnostic test had shown sensitivity and specificity values of 61.5% and 75%, respectively. Conclusions The interexaminer reliability for tomographic findings was strong . However, the agreement between clinical and tomographic findings was reasonable , for both examiners.