More frequent detection of calcified carotid atherosclerotic plaques and mineralized laryngeal cartilages on digital than on film-based panoramic radiographs
- Author:
Sergio Lins DE-AZEVEDO-VAZ
1
;
João Victor Pereira MACHADO
;
Teresa Cristina Rangel PEREIRA
;
Deborah Queiroz FREITAS
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords: Atherosclerosis; Incidental Findings; Radiography, Panoramic; Radiography, Dental, Digital
- MeSH: Atherosclerosis; Female; Humans; Incidental Findings; Laryngeal Cartilages; Miners; Odds Ratio; Plaque, Atherosclerotic; Radiography, Dental, Digital; Radiography, Panoramic
- From:Imaging Science in Dentistry 2019;49(1):65-70
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: PURPOSE: To determine whether calcified carotid atherosclerotic plaques (CCAPs) and mineralized laryngeal cartilages (MLCs) were more frequently detected on digital or film-based panoramic radiographs. The clinical relevance of this question is that some radiopacities seen on digital radiographs may correspond to medium-density tissues that are not necessarily mineralized. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data were collected from panoramic radiographs and the respective reports issued by 2 private oral radiology centers. A total of 388 radiographs and reports were divided into film-based (group A) and digital (group D) radiographs. The frequencies of CCAPs and MLCs were analyzed using the Fisher exact test, and odds ratios were also calculated (α=1%). RESULTS: The mean age of patients whose reports and radiographs showed CCAPs and/or MLCs ranged from 50.1 to 54.1 years. There was a predominance of females. A higher frequency of CCAPs and MLCs was observed in group D than in group A at both centers (P<0.01). CCAPs and MLCs were detected 4 times more frequently in group D than in group A at one of the centers. CONCLUSION: CCAPs and MLCs were more frequently detected on digital than on film-based panoramic radiographs. Further studies are needed to determine whether such radiopacities do indeed correspond to mineralized, rather than medium-density, tissues.
