Constitutional and acquired genetic variants in ARID5B in pediatric B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Constitutional polymorphisms in ARID5B are associated with an increased risk of developing high hyperdiploid (HeH; 51-67 chromosomes) pediatric B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP ALL). Here, we investigated constitutional and somatic ARID5B variants in 1335 BCP ALL cases from five different cohorts, with a particular focus on HeH cases. In 353 HeH ALL that were heterozygous for risk alleles and trisomic for chromosome 10, where ARID5B is located, a significantly higher proportion of risk allele duplication was seen for the SNPs rs7090445 (p = 0.009), rs7089424 (p = 0.005), rs7073837 (p = 0.03), and rs10740055 (p = 0.04). Somatic ARID5B deletions were seen in 16/1335 cases (1.2%), being more common in HeH than in other genetic subtypes (2.2% vs. 0.4%; p = 0.002). The expression of ARID5B in HeH cases with genomic deletions was reduced, consistent with a functional role in leukemogenesis. Whole-genome sequencing and RNA-sequencing in HeH revealed additional somatic events involving ARID5B, resulting in a total frequency of 3.6% of HeH cases displaying a somatic ARID5B aberration. Overall, our results show that both constitutional and somatic events in ARID5B are involved in the leukemogenesis of pediatric BCP ALL, particularly in the HeH subtype.

Diagnostic yield and clinical impact of germline sequencing in children with CNS and extracranial solid tumors-a nationwide, prospective Swedish study.

Background: Childhood cancer predisposition (ChiCaP) syndromes are increasingly recognized as contributing factors to childhood cancer development. Yet, due to variable availability of germline testing, many children with ChiCaP might go undetected today. We report results from the nationwide and prospective ChiCaP study that investigated diagnostic yield and clinical impact of integrating germline whole-genome sequencing (gWGS) with tumor sequencing and systematic phenotyping in children with solid tumors. Methods: gWGS was performed in 309 children at diagnosis of CNS (n = 123, 40%) or extracranial (n = 186, 60%) solid tumors and analyzed for disease-causing variants in 189 known cancer predisposing genes. Tumor sequencing data were available for 74% (227/309) of patients. In addition, a standardized clinical assessment for underlying predisposition was performed in 95% (293/309) of patients. Findings: The prevalence of ChiCaP diagnoses was 11% (35/309), of which 69% (24/35) were unknown at inclusion (diagnostic yield 8%, 24/298). A second-hit and/or relevant mutational signature was observed in 19/21 (90%) tumors with informative data. ChiCaP diagnoses were more prevalent among patients with retinoblastomas (50%, 6/12) and high-grade astrocytomas (37%, 6/16), and in those with non-cancer related features (23%, 20/88), and ≥2 positive ChiCaP criteria (28%, 22/79). ChiCaP diagnoses were autosomal dominant in 80% (28/35) of patients, yet confirmed de novo in 64% (18/28). The 35 ChiCaP findings resulted in tailored surveillance (86%, 30/35) and treatment recommendations (31%, 11/35). Interpretation: Overall, our results demonstrate that systematic phenotyping, combined with genomics-based diagnostics of ChiCaP in children with solid tumors is feasible in large-scale clinical practice and critically guides personalized care in a sizable proportion of patients. Funding: The study was supported by the Swedish Childhood Cancer Fund and the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs.

Temporomandibular involvement in children and adolescents with juvenile idiopathic arthritis: a 2-year prospective cohort study.

This study aimed to clinically evaluate temporomandibular joint (TMJ) involvement in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and the ability to identify and/or predict development of TMJ-deformities over time using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). The predictive value of self-reported TMJ pain was also assessed. A prospective longitudinal cohort study comprising 54 children with JIA, 39 girls and 15 boys, was performed. All children had active disease at baseline, 50% with the subtype oligoarthritis. Repeated clinical orofacial and CBCT examinations were performed over a two-year period. At baseline, 39% had radiographic TMJ deformities (24% unilateral, 15% bilateral), at 2-year follow-up, 42% (p > 0.05). Both progressing and improving TMJ deformities were observed. An association was found between TMJ-deformities and self-reported TMJ pain at baseline (p = 0.01). Maximum unassisted mouth opening (MUO) was smaller for children with TMJ-deformities (p < 0.05). The prevalence of palpatory muscle pain was high (48-59%) but not predictive of development of TMJ-deformities. TMJ noises increased over time and crepitations were associated with TMJ-deformities (p < 0.05). In conclusion, in children with JIA, self-reported TMJ pain and dysfunction were common and predictive of TMJ deformities. TMJ deformities were associated with smaller MUO and palpatory TMJ pain as well as crepitations. Trial registration. ClinicalTrials.gov Protocol id: 2010/2089-31/2.

Temporomandibular joint pathologies: pictorial review.

In this pictorial review, an introductory paragraph emphasizes the significance of some anatomical aspects for optimal imaging of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). The most frequent pathologies: internal derangement (ID) and osteoarthritis (OA) are comprehensively discussed and illustrated. Less common conditions: ID and OA-like changes in children and adolescents, idiopathic condylar resorption, inflammatory arthritis, and juvenile idiopathic arthritis are briefly discussed. A short paragraph on differential diagnostics in young patients is included followed by a brief comment on expansile lesions that occasionally may occur in the TMJ.

Feasibility to use whole-genome sequencing as a sole diagnostic method to detect genomic aberrations in pediatric B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Introduction: The suitability of whole-genome sequencing (WGS) as the sole method to detect clinically relevant genomic aberrations in B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) was investigated with the aim of replacing current diagnostic methods. Methods: For this purpose, we assessed the analytical performance of 150 bp paired-end WGS (90x leukemia/30x germline). A set of 88 retrospective B-cell ALL samples were selected to represent established ALL subgroups as well as ALL lacking stratifying markers by standard-of-care (SoC), so-called B-other ALL. Results: Both the analysis of paired leukemia/germline (L/N)(n=64) as well as leukemia-only (L-only)(n=88) detected all types of aberrations mandatory in the current ALLTogether trial protocol, i.e., aneuploidies, structural variants, and focal copy-number aberrations. Moreover, comparison to SoC revealed 100% concordance and that all patients had been assigned to the correct genetic subgroup using both approaches. Notably, WGS could allocate 35 out of 39 B-other ALL samples to one of the emerging genetic subgroups considered in the most recent classifications of ALL. We further investigated the impact of high (90x; n=58) vs low (30x; n=30) coverage on the diagnostic yield and observed an equally perfect concordance with SoC; low coverage detected all relevant lesions. Discussion: The filtration of the WGS findings with a short list of genes recurrently rearranged in ALL was instrumental to extract the clinically relevant information efficiently. Nonetheless, the detection of DUX4 rearrangements required an additional customized analysis, due to multiple copies of this gene embedded in the highly repetitive D4Z4 region. We conclude that the diagnostic performance of WGS as the standalone method was remarkable and allowed detection of all clinically relevant genomic events in the diagnostic setting of B-cell ALL.

Diagnostic Yield From a Nationwide Implementation of Precision Medicine for all Children With Cancer.

PURPOSE: Several studies have indicated that broad genomic characterization of childhood cancer provides diagnostically and/or therapeutically relevant information in selected high-risk cases. However, the extent to which such characterization offers clinically actionable data in a prospective broadly inclusive setting remains largely unexplored. METHODS: We implemented prospective whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of tumor and germline, complemented by whole-transcriptome sequencing (RNA-Seq) for all children diagnosed with a primary or relapsed solid malignancy in Sweden. Multidisciplinary molecular tumor boards were set up to integrate genomic data in the clinical decision process along with a medicolegal framework enabling secondary use of sequencing data for research purposes. RESULTS: During the study's first 14 months, 118 solid tumors from 117 patients were subjected to WGS, with complementary RNA-Seq for fusion gene detection in 52 tumors. There was no significant geographic bias in patient enrollment, and the included tumor types reflected the annual national incidence of pediatric solid tumor types. Of the 112 tumors with somatic mutations, 106 (95%) exhibited alterations with a clear clinical correlation. In 46 of 118 tumors (39%), sequencing only corroborated histopathological diagnoses, while in 59 cases (50%), it contributed to additional subclassification or detection of prognostic markers. Potential treatment targets were found in 31 patients (26%), most commonly ALK mutations/fusions (n = 4), RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK pathway mutations (n = 14), FGFR1 mutations/fusions (n = 5), IDH1 mutations (n = 2), and NTRK2 gene fusions (n = 2). In one patient, the tumor diagnosis was revised based on sequencing. Clinically relevant germline variants were detected in 8 of 94 patients (8.5%). CONCLUSION: Up-front, large-scale genomic characterization of pediatric solid malignancies provides diagnostically valuable data in the majority of patients also in a largely unselected cohort.

Impact of 1q gains on treatment outcomes of patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma in a real-world Swedish population receiving modern treatment.

BACKGROUND: Amplification of 1q (amp(1q); ≥4 1q copies) has repeatedly been reported to predict a worse outcome in multiple myeloma (MM), whereas the impact of gain of 1q (gain(1q); three 1q copies) is less clear. METHODS: We investigated survival of MM in relation to amp(1q) and gain(1q) by retrospectively analysing 346 consecutively newly diagnosed MM (NDMM) patients. Of these, 62 (18%) had amp(1q), 97 (28%) gain(1q) and 187 (54%) a normal number of 1q copies (no1q). RESULTS: The patients with amp(1q) had a shorter median progression-free survival than those with gain(1q) or no(1q) (13.1 months, 95% confidence interval [CI] 8.2-18.1 months vs. 36.1 months, 95% CI 23.1-49.1 months vs. 25.4 months, 95% CI 19.8-31.1 months, p = .005). The 3-year overall survival (OS) was 56% for amp(1q), 76% for gain(1q) and 80% for no1q (p = .003). In the multivariate analysis, the presence of amp(1q) was independently associated with a shorter OS (hazard ratio 1.99, 95% CI 1.03-3.82, p = .039), whereas gain(1q) had no negative effect on survival. CONCLUSION: Our results thus suggest that amp(1q) should be considered a high-risk abnormality in NDMM and that new treatment strategies should be explored to mitigate its negative effect on survival.

Imaging signs of temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis in an urban population of 65-year-olds: A cone beam computed tomography study.

BACKGROUND: Symptoms of osteoarthritis (OA) in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) may vary and possible causes should be further explored, such as prevalence and characteristics of imaging features. OBJECTIVES: Investigate prevalence, gender differences and characteristics of imaging signs of TMJ-OA by cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) in a population-based sample of 65-year-old Oslo citizens. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 159 (86 women, 73 men) individuals randomly recruited from a cohort of 460 Oslo citizens were examined with CBCT. The TMJs were categorised as with imaging signs of OA, no OA or indeterminate for OA. RESULTS: CBCT signs of TMJ-OA were found in 35% of the 159 participants: 47% of the women and 22% of the men. CBCT signs of TMJ-OA were unilateral in two-thirds of the TMJs and characterised by articular surface flattening and condylar osteophytes. In almost all joints with bone erosive findings, bone productive findings were also found. Participants with and without CBCT signs of TMJ-OA showed no significant difference in TMD pain screener. Fourteen of the 159 participants (9%) had pain-related TMD and 12 (8%) had been in contact with health care services due to TMD. CONCLUSIONS: CBCT signs of TMJ-OA was common in this study group of 65-year-old Oslo citizens, found in every second woman and every fifth man. Articular surface flattening and bone productive changes, in particular condylar osteophytes, were the most frequent imaging features. Despite the high frequency of CBCT signs of TMJ-OA, few of the participants had pain-related TMD.

The prognostic impact of IKZF1 deletions and UKALL genetic classifiers in paediatric B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukaemia treated according to NOPHO 2008 protocols.

We investigated 390 paediatric B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (BCP-ALL) patients treated according to NOPHO ALL 2008, regarding copy number alterations (CNA) of eight loci associated with adverse prognosis, including IKZF1. The impact on outcome was investigated for each locus individually, combined as CNA profiles and together with cytogenetic information. The presence of IKZF1 deletion or a poor-risk CNA profile was associated with poor outcome in the whole cohort. In the standard-risk group, IKZF1-deleted cases had an inferior probability of relapse-free survival (pRFS) (p ≤ 0.001) and overall survival (pOS) (p ≤ 0.001). Additionally, among B-other patients, IKZF1 deletion correlated with poor pRFS (60% vs. 90%) and pOS (65% vs. 89%). Both IKZF1 deletion and a poor-risk CNA profile were independent factors for relapse and death in multivariable analyses adjusting for known risk factors including measurable residual disease. Our data indicate that BCP-ALL patients with high-risk CNA or IKZF1 deletion have worse prognosis despite otherwise low-risk features. Conversely, patients with both a good CNA and cytogenetic profile had a superior relapse-free (p ≤ 0.001) and overall survival (p ≤ 0.001) in the cohort, across all risk groups. Taken together, our findings highlight the potential of CNA assessment to refine stratification in ALL.

Clonal origin and development of high hyperdiploidy in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

High hyperdiploid acute lymphoblastic leukemia (HeH ALL), one of the most common childhood malignancies, is driven by nonrandom aneuploidy (abnormal chromosome numbers) mainly comprising chromosomal gains. In this study, we investigate how aneuploidy in HeH ALL arises. Single cell whole genome sequencing of 2847 cells from nine primary cases and one normal bone marrow reveals that HeH ALL generally display low chromosomal heterogeneity, indicating that they are not characterized by chromosomal instability and showing that aneuploidy-driven malignancies are not necessarily chromosomally heterogeneous. Furthermore, most chromosomal gains are present in all leukemic cells, suggesting that they arose early during leukemogenesis. Copy number data from 577 primary cases reveals selective pressures that were used for in silico modeling of aneuploidy development. This shows that the aneuploidy in HeH ALL likely arises by an initial tripolar mitosis in a diploid cell followed by clonal evolution, in line with a punctuated evolution model.

Management of Orofacial Manifestations of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: Interdisciplinary Consensus-Based Recommendations.

Involvement of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is common in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). TMJ arthritis can lead to orofacial symptoms, orofacial dysfunction, and dentofacial deformity with negative impact on quality of life. Management involves interdisciplinary collaboration. No current recommendations exist to guide clinical management. We undertook this study to develop consensus-based interdisciplinary recommendations for management of orofacial manifestations of JIA, and to create a future research agenda related to management of TMJ arthritis in children with JIA. Recommendations were developed using online surveying of relevant stakeholders, systematic literature review, evidence-informed generation of recommendations during 2 consensus meetings, and Delphi study iterations involving external experts. The process included disciplines involved in the care of orofacial manifestations of JIA: pediatric rheumatology, radiology, orthodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery, orofacial pain specialists, and pediatric dentistry. Recommendations were accepted if agreement was >80% during a final Delphi study. Three overarching management principles and 12 recommendations for interdisciplinary management of orofacial manifestations of JIA were outlined. The 12 recommendations pertained to diagnosis (n = 4), treatment of TMJ arthritis (active TMJ inflammation) (n = 2), treatment of TMJ dysfunction and symptoms (n = 3), treatment of arthritis-related dentofacial deformity (n = 2), and other aspects related to JIA (n = 1). Additionally, a future interdisciplinary research agenda was developed. These are the first interdisciplinary recommendations to guide clinical management of TMJ JIA. The 3 overarching principles and 12 recommendations fill an important gap in current clinical practice. They emphasize the importance of an interdisciplinary approach to diagnosis and management of orofacial manifestations of JIA.

The diagnostic utility of DNA copy number analysis of core needle biopsies from soft tissue and bone tumors.

Morphologic and immunohistochemical analysis of preoperative core needle biopsies (CNB) is important in the management of patients with soft tissue and bone tumors (STBTs). Most SBTB subtypes have more or less extensive DNA copy number aberrations (CNA), potentially providing useful diagnostic information. To evaluate the technical feasibility of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array analysis and the diagnostic usefulness of the copy number profiles, we studied CNBs from 171 patients with suspected STBTs. SNP array analysis could be performed on 168 (98%) of the samples. The CNA profile was compatible with the CNB diagnosis in 87% of the cases. Discrepant cases were dominated by false-negative results due to nonrepresentative material or contamination with normal cells. 70 genomic profiles were indicative of specific histopathologic tumor entities and in agreement with the corresponding CNB diagnoses in 83%. In 96 of the cases with aberrant CNA profiles, the SNP profiles were of sufficient quality for segmentation, allowing clustering analysis on the basis of the Jaccard similarity index. The analysis of these segment files showed three major CNA clusters, based on the complexity levels and the predominance of gains versus losses. For 43 of these CNB samples, we had SNP array data also from their corresponding surgical samples. In 33 of these pairs, the two corresponding samples clustered next to each other, with Jaccard scores ranging from 0.61 to 0.99 (median 0.96). Also, for those tumor pairs that did not cluster together, the Jaccard scores were relatively high (median 0.9). 10 cases showed discrepant results, mainly due to varying degrees of normal cell contamination or technical issues. Thus, the copy number profile seen in a CNB is typically highly representative of the major cell population in the tumor.

Discrete Choice Experiment on a Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scoring System for Temporomandibular Joints in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relative importance weights of items and grades of a newly developed additive outcome measure called the juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scoring system for the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) (JAMRIS-TMJ). METHODS: An adaptive partial-profile, discrete choice experiment (DCE) survey using the 1000Minds platform was independently completed by members of an expert group consisting of radiologists and non-radiologist clinicians to determine the group-averaged relative weights for the JAMRIS-TMJ. Subsequently, an image-based vignette ranking exercise was done, during which experts individually rank ordered 14 patient vignettes for disease severity while blinded to the weights and unrestricted to JAMRIS-TMJ assessment criteria. Validity of the weighted JAMRIS-TMJ was tested by comparing the consensus-graded, DCE-weighted JAMRIS-TMJ score of the vignettes with their unrestricted image-based ranks provided by the experts. RESULTS: Nineteen experts completed the DCE survey, and 21 completed the vignette ranking exercise. Synovial thickening and joint enhancement showed higher weights per raw score compared to bone marrow items and effusion in the inflammatory domain, while erosions and condylar flattening showed nonlinear and higher weights compared to disk abnormalities in the damage domain. The weighted JAMRIS-TMJ score of the vignettes correlated highly with the ranks from the unrestricted comparison method, with median Spearman's ρ of 0.92 (interquartile range [IQR] 0.87-0.95) for the inflammation and 0.93 (IQR 0.90-0.94) for the damage domain. CONCLUSION: A DCE survey was used to quantify the importance weights of the items and grades of the JAMRIS-TMJ. The weighted score showed high convergent validity with an unrestricted, holistic vignette ranking method.

Assessing the Reliability of the OMERACT Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Magnetic Resonance Scoring System for Temporomandibular Joints (JAMRIS-TMJ).

Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) remains the most comprehensive modality to assess juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)-related inflammation and osteochondral damage in the temporomandibular joints (TMJ). This study tested the reliability of a new JIA MRI scoring system for TMJ (JAMRIS-TMJ) and the impact of variations in calibration and reader specialty. Thirty-one MRI exams of bilateral TMJs were scored independently using the JAMRIS-TMJ by 20 readers consisting of radiologists and non-radiologist clinicians in three reading groups, with or without a calibrating atlas and/or tutorial. The inter-reader reliability in the multidisciplinary cohort assessed by the generalizability coefficient was 0.61-0.67 for the inflammatory and 0.66-0.74 for the damage domain. The atlas and tutorial did not improve agreement within radiologists, but improved the agreement between radiologist and non-radiologist groups. Agreements between different calibration levels were 0.02 to 0.08 lower by the generalizability coefficient compared to agreement within calibration levels; agreement between specialty groups was 0.04 to 0.10 lower than within specialty groups. Averaging two radiologists raised the reliability above 0.8 for both domains. Therefore, the reliability of JAMRIS-TMJ was moderate-to-good depending on the presence of specialty and calibration differences. The atlas and tutorial are necessary to improve reliability when the reader cohort consists of multiple specialties.

13q12.2 deletions in acute lymphoblastic leukemia lead to upregulation of FLT3 through enhancer hijacking.

Mutations in the FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) gene in 13q12.2 are among the most common driver events in acute leukemia, leading to increased cell proliferation and survival through activation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/AKT-, RAS/MAPK-, and STAT5-signaling pathways. In this study, we examine the pathogenetic impact of somatic hemizygous 13q12.2 microdeletions in B-cell precursor (BCP) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) using 5 different patient cohorts (in total including 1418 cases). The 13q12.2 deletions occur immediately 5' of FLT3 and involve the PAN3 locus. By detailed analysis of the 13q12.2 segment, we show that the deletions lead to loss of a topologically associating domain border and an enhancer of FLT3. This results in increased cis interactions between the FLT3 promoter and another enhancer located distally to the deletion breakpoints, with subsequent allele-specific upregulation of FLT3 expression, expected to lead to ligand-independent activation of the receptor and downstream signaling. The 13q12.2 deletions are highly enriched in the high-hyperdiploid BCP ALL subtype (frequency 3.9% vs 0.5% in other BCP ALL) and in cases that subsequently relapsed. Taken together, our study describes a novel mechanism of FLT3 involvement in leukemogenesis by upregulation via chromatin remodeling and enhancer hijacking. These data further emphasize the role of FLT3 as a driver gene in BCP ALL.

SFPQ-ABL1-positive B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemias.

In recent years, a subgroup of B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP ALL) without an established abnormality ("B-other") has been shown to be characterized by rearrangements of ABL1, ABL2, CSF1R, or PDGFRB (a.k.a. ABL-class genes). Using FISH with probes for these genes, we screened 55 pediatric and 50 adult B-other cases. Three (6%) of the adult but none of the childhood B-other cases were positive for ABL-class aberrations. RT-PCR and sequencing confirmed a rare SFPQ-ABL1 fusion in one adult B-other case with t(1;9)(p34;q34). Only six SFPQ-ABL1-positive BCP ALLs have been reported, present case included. A review of these shows that all harbored fusions between exon 9 of SFPQ and exon 4 of ABL1, that the fusion is typically found in adolescents/younger adults without hyperleukocytosis, and that IKZF1 deletions are recurrent. The few patients not treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and/or allogeneic stem cell transplantation relapsed, strengthening the notion that TKI should be added to the therapy of SFPQ-ABL1-positive BCP ALL.

Improvement of bone-erosive temporomandibular joint (TMJ) abnormalities in adolescents undergoing non-surgical treatment: a longitudinal study.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the longitudinal changes of the imaging temporomandibular joint (TMJ) characteristics in young patients with TMJ-related symptoms and treated with non-surgical methods. The severity of self-reported symptoms at follow-up was also investigated. METHODS: A cone beam CT (CBCT)/CT follow-up examination [median follow-up 4.1 (1.3-6.4) years] was performed in 22 patients with erosive TMJ abnormalities [baseline median age 16 (12-18) years]. Imaging characteristics were analyzed and the changes between the examinations were categorized as (A) improvement, (B) no change, or (C) worsening. Severity of follow-up symptoms was evaluated using Jaw Functional Limitation Scale (JFLS-8) and Graded Chronic Pain Scale (Grade 0-IV). Analyses were performed separately for left and right TMJ. Findings at baseline and follow-up were compared using McNemar test to account for dependencies. Changes in proportions of hard tissue findings between examinations were assessed using Wilcoxon signed ranks test. RESULTS: A significant reduction in the proportion of patients with erosive abnormalities was found [59.1%, 95% CI (36.4-79.3) %]. Baseline erosions improved in 9/12 (75%) right and 14/15 (93%) left TMJs. About half repaired; developed an intact cortical outline. Number of joints with osteophytes increased (right: p < 0.04, left: p < 0.003). New osteophytes were mostly found in joints with erosive findings. Low or no limitation of jaw function (Jaw Functional Limitation Scale) was found in 12/22 (55%) and no or low intensity of pain (Graded Chronic Pain Scale Grade 0 or I) in 19/22 (86%) at follow-up. CONCLUSION: We found a high potential for repair of erosive TMJ abnormalities. However, the patient series was small. The majority of patients assessed their symptom severity at follow-up as low.