RESUMO
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.