Abstract
Objective: The aim of this study was to estimate the incidence of carotid artery calcification (CAC) in a sample of Lebanese population using digital panoramic radiographs. Materials and Methods: Panoramic radiographs of 500 patients (281 females and 219 males), aged between 18 and 88 years (mean: 47.9 years), were assessed for CAC. Data collected were analyzed statistically using IBM® SPSS® for Windows version 20.0 (SPSS, Chicago, IL, USA). Results: CAC were found in 34 cases (6.8%), among them, 23 females (8.18%) and 11 males (5.02%). Six of all the calcifications were on the right side, against six on the left side, and 22 on both sides. The mean age of patients affected with CAC was 60.9 years (ranging from 18 to 88 years). Chi-square test showed no statistical significance between gender and CAC, while Spearman correlation analysis showed positive low correlation with age (r = 0.179). Conclusion: CAC can be found on routine panoramic radiographs taken in dental clinics; dentists should automatically refer the patients in question for specialized medical evaluation.
Highlights
Materials and MethodsPanoramic radiographs of 500 patients (281 females and 219 males), aged between 18 and 88 years (mean: 47.9 years), were assessed for CAC
Knowing that atheromas are generally located in the bifurcation of the common carotid artery, and that the early detection of these calcifications may help decrease cerebrovascular accidents incidence considerably, there has been increased awareness in radiologic investigation as a noninvasive way to trace them [3,10,11,12]
Friedlander and Lande [13], followed by many other researchers, identify carotid artery calcification (CAC) by means of conventional imaging techniques used in dental practice, e.g., panoramic radiography
Summary
Panoramic radiographs of 500 patients (281 females and 219 males), aged between 18 and 88 years (mean: 47.9 years), were assessed for CAC. Data collected were analyzed statistically using IBM® SPSS® for Windows version 20.0 (SPSS, Chicago, IL, USA). Results: CAC were found in 34 cases (6.8%), among them, 23 females (8.18%) and 11 males (5.02%). Six of all the calcifications were on the right side, against six on the left side, and 22 on both sides. The mean age of patients affected with CAC was 60.9 years (ranging from 18 to 88 years). Chi-square test showed no statistical significance between gender and CAC, while Spearman correlation analysis showed positive low correlation with age (r = 0.179). Conclusion: CAC can be found on routine panoramic radiographs taken in dental clinics; dentists should automatically refer the patients in question for specialized medical evaluation
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