title: [Prevalence of carotid artery calcification on panoramic radiographs].
abstract: In a retrospective study, the prevalence of carotid artery calcifications on routine screening panoramic radiographs of a Dutch Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery department was investigated. Individuals older than 45 without a history of CVA, TIA or head and neck radiotherapy were included.Technically useful radiographs were available for 145 males (mean age 59.6 years) and 303 females (mean age 58.5 years). Both a dentist and an oral maxillofacial surgeon examined these radiographs for radio-opaque lesions adjacent or below the C3-C4 intervertebral space. Forty-two individuals with asymptomatic carotid artery calcifications were identified (9.4% of the study population; mean age 68.2 years): 18 men (12.4%; mean age 66.2 years) and 24 women (7.9%; mean age 69.7 years). In 90% of cases the calcifications were bilateral. These results indicate that panoramic radiographs obtained during the course of routine dental treatment may identify calcified carotid atheromas in asymptomatic subjects.
authors.affiliation: de afdeling Tandheelkundige Basiswetenschappen, sectie Orale Biochemie, van het Academisch Centrum Tandheelkunde Amsterdam. hs.brand@vumc.nl
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Brand
authors.forename: W C G
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Mekenkamp
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Baart
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D019252:Radiography, Dental, Digital; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors