title: Prevalence of carotid artery calcification in patients with chronic renal disease identified by panoramic radiography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of carotid artery calcification (CAC) in the panoramic radiographs of patients with chronic renal disease and to ascertain the medical parameters.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 100 panoramic radiographs were observed. The division of patients according to renal disease was as follows: 37 in early-stage renal disease (ESG), 32 in predialysis (PDG), and 31 in hemodialysis (HDG).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 21 images with opacities suggestive of CAC (6 from ESG, 7 from PDG, and 8 from HDG). The medical parameters were as follows: Triglyceride levels were significantly higher (P < .0001) in patients with CAC compared with those without CAC; potassium levels were higher in the group with CAC compared with the group without CAC (P < .0001); and the calcium levels were lower in the group with CAC compared with the group without CAC (P < .0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The patients with renal injury and changes in triglyceride and potassium levels had a higher prevalence of CAC on panoramic radiography.
authors.affiliation: Dentistry Department, University of Taubaté, Taubaté, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jeanine Yehthin
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Dentistry Department, University of Taubaté, Taubaté, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Monica Cristina Camargo
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Antoniazzi
authors.affiliation: Dentistry Department, University of Taubaté, Taubaté, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Perozini
authors.affiliation: Medicine Department, University of Taubaté, Taubaté, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gilson Fernandes
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Ruivo
authors.affiliation: Dentistry Department, University of Taubaté, Taubaté, São Paulo, Brazil; University of Santo Amaro, Santo Amaro, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: Dpallos@netpoint.com.br.
authors.forename: Debora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pallos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D051436:Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / Q000150:complications*