title: Identification of stroke prone patients by panoramic radiography.
abstract: Stroke (cerebrovascular accident, CVA) is the third leading cause of death and an important cause of hospital admission and long term disability in Australia. Atherosclerotic lesions at the bifurcation of the common carotid artery are the most common cause of stroke. On occasion these lesions are partially calcified and visible on a conventional panoramic dental radiograph. The atheroma may appear either as a nodular radiopaque mass or as two radiopaque vertical lines within the soft tissues of the neck at the level of the lower margin of the third cervical vertebra (C3). These opacities are separate and distinct from the hyoid bone and variably appear above or below it. Dentists should scrupulously review the panoramic radiographs of all individuals over age 55 with medical histories of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hypercholesteraemia and coronary artery disease, or whose behaviour includes smoking, ethanol abuse, or dietary indiscretion coupled with overweight and a sedentary lifestyle which are known to be associated with atherosclerosis and stroke.
authors.affiliation: University of California, Los Angeles, USA.
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Friedlander
authors.forename: I K
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Friedlander
mesh_terms: D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002423:Cause of Death; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000150:complications; D003815:Dentists; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006928:Hyoid Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000150:complications; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009333:Neck / Q000098:blood supply*; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D010343:Patient Admission; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects