Extra- and intra-cranial arterial calcifications in adults depicted as incidental findings on cone beam CT images.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate, retrospectively, the gender- and age-related prevalence of incidentally found calcifications, depicted within the course of the extra- and intra-cranial portion of internal carotid artery (ICA), in cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) examinations in adults, and to assess their clinical significance.


METHODS
Out of a pull of 700 CBCT examinations a total of 484 CBCT scans of adult patients were finally selected according to a set of pre-defined criteria. These were evaluated for arterial calcifications presence within the ICAs course according to gender and age criteria.


RESULTS
In total, 492 calcifications were detected: 211 (42.88%) extra-cranial and 281 (57.11%) intra-cranial. Those were recorded in 150 scans (30.99%) and 161 scans (33.26%), respectively. Calcifications, with either extra- or intra-cranial allocation, were found more frequent in males than in females (all p-values < 0.05); also patients who presented with positive findings were older than those without findings (all p-values < 0.05). Furthermore, calcification presence with either extra- or intra-cranial allocation increases with age (all p-values < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Significant calcification frequencies were found within the ICA's course, in CBCT scans. Moreover, an increased incidence of either extra- or intra-cranial presence of these depictions and its relation to age and gender was documented.
Oral Diagnosis and Radiology Clinic, School of Dentistry, National and Kapodistrian University , Athens , Greece.
Spyros
S
Damaskos
Kostas
K
Tsiklakis
Kostas
K
Syriopoulos
Paul
P
van der Stelt
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous; D005151:Facial Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D002537:Intracranial Arteriosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009971:Orthodontics, Corrective; D056948:Orthognathic Surgical Procedures; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging
calcifications; carotid artery; cone beam computed tomography; diagnosis; internal carotid artery