title: Prevalence of calcified carotid artery atheromas on panoramic images of individuals with primary hyperparathyroidism.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT), affecting 1% of the population, is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The presence of calcified carotid artery plaque (CCAP) on panoramic images is a validated risk indicator of future adverse cardiovascular events. We hypothesized that military veterans aged 50 years or older diagnosed with PHPT by increased parathyroid hormone and calcium levels would frequently have CCAP on their images.
  
  
  METHODS
  We determined the prevalence rates of CCAP on the images of patients diagnosed with PHPT and evaluated their atherogenic risk profiles, including hypertension, dyslipidaemia, diabetes and obesity. Comparisons of atherogenic risk factors were made between subjects with and without observed CCAP on their panoramic images.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 60 patients (86.7% males and 13.3% females, mean age 73.2 ± 11.3 years) with PHPT, 40% had atheromas. There were no significant differences between CCAP+ and CCAP- groups in gender or race (p > 0.05). The atherogenic profile (age, body mass index, hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidaemia) in the CCAP+ and CCAP- groups was not significantly different (p > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Calcified carotid artery atheromas are often seen on the panoramic images of patients with PHPT. Thus, dentists must be uniquely vigilant for these lesions when evaluating these studies.
authors.affiliation: Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA, USA. arthur.friedlander@va.gov
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Friedlander
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Aghazadehsanai
authors.forename: T I
authors.initials: TI
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Harada
authors.forename: N R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Garrett
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D049950:Hyperparathyroidism, Primary / Q000150:complications*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D044465:White People
keywords: atherosclerosis; carotid artery; panoramic images; primary hyperparathyroidism