title: Clinical associations of incidentally detected parotid gland calcification on CT.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Parotid gland calcifications can be incidental findings on computed tomography (CT) and have been reported to be associated with chronic inflammatory conditions. Associations between parotid gland calcification and other common medical conditions have not been reported.
  
  
  METHODS
  Following institutional review board approval, 1,571 patients who underwent noncontrast head CT with 1.25-mm slice thickness on a 64-detector row CT between January 2011 and July 2011 were retrospectively reviewed for parotid gland calcifications. Medical records were reviewed for chronic kidney disease, alcoholism, autoimmune conditions, endocrine disorders, elevated alkaline phosphatase, and HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) status. Statistical analyses were performed using Fisher's exact test and multiple logistic regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-three of 1,571 (4%) patients had parotid gland calcifications. Significant associations were observed between parotid gland calcifications and HIV infection (P = 0.002), chronic kidney disease (P < 0.0001), alcoholism (P < 0.0001), elevated alkaline phosphatase (P = 0.003), and autoimmune disease (P = 0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Parotid gland calcifications were associated with HIV, alcoholism, chronic kidney disease, autoimmune disease, and elevated alkaline phosphatase.
  
  
  METHODS
  4.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Buch
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Rohini N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Nadgir
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Akifumi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fujita
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Andrew D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Tannenbaum
authors.affiliation: Biostatistics Core, Clinical Research Program, Children's Hospital Boston, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Al
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ozonoff
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.|Department of Radiation Oncology, Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.|; Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sakai
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010305:Parotid Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: CT; Parotid gland; calcification