title: Calcium quantity in carotid plaques: detection in panoramic radiographs and association with degree of stenosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine calcium volume in extirpated carotid plaques, analyze correlations between calcium volume and degree of stenosis, and analyze whether calcium volume influences the possibility of detecting stenosis in panoramic radiographs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-seven consecutive patients with ultrasonography-verified carotid stenosis were examined with panoramic radiography before surgery. Extirpated carotid plaques (n = 103) were analyzed for calcium volume by cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). Panoramic radiographs were analyzed for carotid calcifications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median calcium volume was 45 mm(3) (first quartile subtracted from the third quartile [IQR], 14-98 mm(3)). We observed no correlation between calcium volume and degree of stenosis. Seventy-eight stenoses were situated within the region included in the panoramic radiographs, and their volumes ranged from 0 to 509 mm(3). Of these, 99% revealed carotid calcifications on panoramic radiographs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found no association between calcium volume and degree of carotid stenosis. Calcium volume did not influence the possibility of detecting carotid calcifications in panoramic radiographs.
authors.affiliation: Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Department of Odontology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden. Electronic address: maria.garoff@umu.se.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Garoff
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden; Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Neuroscience, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: Elias
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Johansson
authors.affiliation: Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Department of Odontology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ahlqvist
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical and Perioperative Sciences, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: Conny
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Arnerlöv
authors.affiliation: Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Department of Odontology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Levring Jäghagen
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wester
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; D016894:Endarterectomy, Carotid; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic