Localized surface-based morphometric differences in painful temporomandibular disorder

Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are prevalent chronic orofacial pain conditions associated with functional impairment and reduced quality of life. This cross-sectional brief report examined cortical and subcortical morphometric differences between 19 individuals with painful TMD (p-TMD) and 20 age- and sex-matched pain-free controls using high-resolution T1-weighted MRI and FreeSurfer-based surface morphometry. Compared with controls, p-TMD participants showed greater cortical curvature and volume within the left anterior and mid-anterior parts of the cingulate gyrus and sulcus, respectively. No additional cortical or subcortical differences survived correction for multiple comparisons. These findings provide preliminary evidence of localized cingulate cortex morphometric differences in p-TMD, consistent with this region's role in pain-related attentional and sensorimotor processes.