Utility of panoramic radiographs in detecting cervical calcified carotid atheroma by Richard P. Madden et al

Abstract

Hopefully this paper will stimulate a healthy debate on the value of dentist observation with respect to the systemic health of their patients and the concept of cost-versus-benefit, both to society and to the individual. For a quarter of a century, Friedlander and various of his colleagues have drawn attention to the possible discovery of calcified carotid plaques on panoramic dental radiographs, and the higher prevalence of such a finding in groups known to be susceptible to vascular diseases predisposing to heart attack and stroke. 1 Friedlander A.H. Lande A. Panoramic radiographic identification of carotid arterial plaques. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol. 1981; 52: 102-104 Google Scholar , 2 Friedlander A.H. Baker J.D. Panoramic radiography: an aid in detecting patients at risk of cerebrovascular accident. J Am Dent Assoc. 1994; 125: 1598-1603 Google Scholar , 3 Friedlander A.H. identification of stroke-prone patients by panoramic and cervical spine radiography. Dentomaxillofac Radiol. 1995; 24: 160-164 Google Scholar , 4 Friedlander A.H. Friedlander I.K. Yueh R. Littner M.R. The prevalence of carotid atheromas seen on panoramic radiographs of patients with obstructive sleep apnea and their relation to risk factors for atherosclerosis. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 1999; 57: 516-521 Google Scholar , 5 Friedlander A.H. Maeder L.A. The prevalence of calcified carotid atheromas on the panoramic radiographs of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod. 2000; 89: 420-424 Google Scholar , 6 Friedlander A.H. Altman L. Carotid artery atheromas in postmenopausal women Their prevalence on panoramic radiograsphs and their relationship to atherogenic risk factors. J Am Dent Assoc. 2001; 132: 1130-1136 Google Scholar , 7 Friedlander A.H. Garrett N.R. Norman D.C. The prevalence of calcified carotid artery atheromas on panoramic radiographs of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. J Am Dent Assoc. 2002; 133: 1516-1523 Google Scholar , 8 Friedlander A.H. Garrett N.R. Chin E.E. Baker J.D. Ultrasonographic confirmation of carotid artery atheromas diagnosed via panoramic radiography. J Am Dent Assoc. 2005; 136: 635-640 Google Scholar , 9 Friedlander A.H. Golub M.S. The significance of carotid artery atheromas on panoramic radiographs in the diagnosis of occult metabolic syndrome. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod. 2006; 101: 95-101 Google Scholar For the most part, the population investigated has been in the United States, a country where excess calorie intake and associated obesity are considered tantamount to epidemic.