## 4 Discussion  
This study yielded compelling results by shedding light on the potential of TA in detecting early signs of TMJ degeneration. Texture parameters were meticulously measured for each patient by using both CT and MRI modalities with a focus on the condylar medulla. In the cases of condylar flattening, which is a precursor to more advanced degenerative changes, TA revealed significant differences between affected and unaffected groups. \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c} \hline
**Group** & **Texture Parameter** & **Position** & \(p\)**-Value** \\ \hline \multirow{6}{*}{Flattening on the right side: CT} & Higher Correlation & S(1,0) & 0.005 \\  & Higher Correlation & S(1,\(-\)1) & 0.007 \\  & Higher Correlation & S(2,0) & 0.001 \\  & Higher Correlation & S(2,\(-\)2) & 0.003 \\  & Higher Correlation & S(3,0) & 0.004 \\  & Higher Correlation & S(2,\(-\)2) & 0.010 \\ \hline \multirow{6}{*}{Flattening on the left side: CT} & Higher Correlation & S(1,0) & 0.025 \\  & Higher Correlation & S(2,0) & 0.012 \\  & Higher Correlation & S(3,0) & 0.004 \\  & Lower Correlation & S(0,3) & 0.028 \\ \hline \multirow{2}{*}{Flattening on the left side: MRI} & Higher Correlation & S(3,3) & 0.017 \\ \hline \multirow{2}{*}{Erosion on the right side: CT} & Higher Contrast & All & 0.018 \\  & Higher SumOfSqs & All & 0.045 \\  & Lower Correlation & S(2,2) & 0.048 \\ \hline \multirow{2}{*}{Erosion on the left side: CT} & Higher Correlation & S(0,1) & 0.003 \\  & Higher Correlation & S(0,2) & 0.001 \\  & Higher Correlation & S(0,3) & 0.001 \\ \hline \multirow{6}{*}{Erosion on the left side: MRI} & Lower AngScMom & All & 0.020 \\  & Higher Contrast & All & 0.031 \\ \cline{1-1}  & Higher SumOfSqs & All & 0.027 \\ \cline{1-1}  & Lower InvDHMom & All & 0.025 \\ \cline{1-1}  & Higher SumEntrp & All & 0.027 \\ \cline{1-1}  & Higher Entropy & All & 0.023 \\ \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 2: Statistically significant differences in texture parameters between groups with and without TMJ pathologies (flattening and erosion) for CT and MRI images. Figure 4: Comparison of patients with and without erosion on the right and left sides for CT and MRI images and texture parameters (angular second moment [AngScMom], contrast, correlation [Correlat], entropy, inverse difference moment [InvDHMom], sum of entropy [SumEntrp], sum of squares [SumOfSqs]). * Significant \(p\)-values. Interestingly, the group with flattening showed higher correlation values, particularly in the positions S(1,0), S(1,\(-\)1), S(2,0), S(2,\(-\)2) and S(3,0), as observed in the CT images. These findings were consistent for both the right and left condyles, thus underscoring the sensitivity of TA in detecting early degenerative changes. MRI-based TA also yielded notable results, as the group with flattening on the left condyle showed higher correlation values in S(3,3). As the degenerative process progresses, condylar erosion becomes a prominent feature. In this study, TA revealed distinct patterns associated with erosive changes. CT images of the right condyle in the group with erosion showed higher contrast values, a higher sum of squares, and lower correlation values in S(2,2). On the left condyle, the group with erosion showed higher correlation values in the positions S(0,1), S(0,2), and S(0,3), as detected via CT images. MRI-based TA also contributed with valuable insights, in which the group with erosion on the left condyle showed a lower angular second moment, higher contrast, higher sum of squares, lower inverse difference moment, higher sum of entropy, and higher entropy values. These findings highlight the sensitivity of TA in detecting both early and advanced degenerative changes in TMJ condyles based on complementary information from CT and MRI images. The textural patterns observed in this study provide valuable insights into the pathophysiological processes underlying TMJ degeneration.