title: Association of calcified carotid atheromas visualized on panoramic images and aortic arch calcifications seen on chest radiographs of postmenopausal women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Occult atherosclerotic disease is the leading cause of death among older women. The authors hypothesized that women with calcified carotid artery plaque (CCAP) visualized on panoramic images were more likely to have aortic arch calcifications (AAC) that were visible on chest radiographs (CRs), a risk indicator of experiencing cardiovascular events, than would matched cohorts who did not have atheromas.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors obtained the CRs of 36 female veterans (≥ 50 years) who had CCAP and atherogenically risk-matched them to those of 36 women without CCAP. A radiologist evaluated the CRs for AAC. Other study variables included age, ethnicity, body mass index and presence or absence of hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia. The authors computed descriptive and bivariate statistics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Women 60 years or older who had evidence of CCAP on their panoramic radiographs were significantly (P = .022; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.298-26.223) more likely to have evidence of AAC on their CRs than were similarly aged women who did not have evidence of CCAP. This association was not evident in women younger than 60 years. Among women who were both younger and older than 60 years, there was no evident association between the presence of CCAP and the severity (on a four point scale [0-3]) of AAC calcification.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prevalence of carotid plaque on panoramic images of women 60 years or older is significantly associated with presence of aortic arch calcifications on CRs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Panoramic images of women 60 years or older must be evaluated for CCAP, given their association with AAC. Patients with atheromas should be referred to their physicians for further evaluation given the systemic implications.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Friedlander is the associate chief of staff and the director of graduate medical education, Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System; the director of quality assurance, Hospital Dental Service, Ronald Reagan University of California Los Angeles Medical Center; and professor-in-residence of oral and maxillofacial surgery, School of Dentistry, University of California, Los Angeles. Address correspondence to Dr. Friedlander at Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, 11301 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, Calif. 90073, friedlander@va.gov.
authors.forename: Arthur H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Friedlander
authors.forename: Suzie M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: El-Saden
authors.forename: Nona
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Aghazadehsanai
authors.forename: Tina I
authors.initials: TI
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Nancy D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Harada
authors.forename: Neal R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Garrett
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Atherosclerosis; panoramic radiography