title: Relation between diagnosis of atheromatous plaque from orthopantomographs and cardiovascular risk factors. A study of cases and control subjects.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In recent years the use of orthopantomography has been proposed as a low-cost, reliable and non-invasive diagnostic medium for detecting atheromatous plaque. The purpose of this study was to correlate the presence of carotid calcifications (atheroma) in orthopantomographs with specific risk factors for cerebrovascular accidents (previous cerebrovascular accidents, arterial hypertension, and diabetes).
  
  
  METHODS
  The methods used in this observational study of cases and control subjects followed STROBE (Strengthening the Reporting of Observational studies in Epidemiology) recommendations. The study analyzed a total of 1,602 panoramic radiographs taken for dental diagnostic purposes between January 2010 and February 2014. The main variables analyzed were the incidence of atheromatous plaque and other cardiovascular risk factors. Epidat 3.1 statistical software was used to determine minimum sample sizes and the results were analyzed using PASW (Predictive Analytics Software) Statistics 10.0.0.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For all the variables analyzed, the correlation between radiographic detection of atheromatous plaque and the presence of cardiovascular disease risk factors was found to be statistically significant (RR>1.5).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence of cardiovascular risk factors is related to the incidence of radiopaque lesions at the carotid artery bifurcation, indicating the presence of atheromatous plaque.
authors.affiliation: Plaza Ramón y Cajal, s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain, crisbarona@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Barona-Dorado
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gutierrez-Bonet
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Leco-Berrocal
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fernández-Cáliz
authors.forename: José-María
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Martínez-González
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic; D012307:Risk Factors; D061205:Vascular Calcification / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D055815:Young Adult