title: Prevalence of suggestive images of carotid artery calcifications on panoramic radiographs and its relationship with predisposing factors.
abstract: Panoramic radiographs (PR) can display radiopaque images suggestive of calcified atheroma in the carotid artery in asymptomatic patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of these images on PR and their linkage with hypertension, obesity, age, gender and smoking habits. PR of 505 patients were evaluated. They were older than 30 years old and their PR had been taken for different clinical reasons. Their body mass index was calculated; their waist circumference was also taken into consideration. Information about smoking habits and hypertension was obtained. The observers analyzed the presence of radiopaque mass in the region of the cervical vertebrae C3-C4 through the PR, confirmed by an antero-posterior (AP) radiograph. The results showed a 7.92% prevalence of suggestive images of calcifications on PR and on AP radiograph. The adjusted Odds Ratio showed association with age and smoking habits. The calcification process is almost nine times higher for the elderly when compared to the young. As far as smokers are concerned, this process is twice worse when compared to no smokers. In conclusion, 7.92% of the group studied presented suggestive images of carotid atherosclerosis on PR, which is directly associated with the age and smoking habits.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Odontologia de Piracicaba, Universidade Estadual de Campinas. Av. Limeira 901, Areião. 13414-903 Piracicaba SP Brasil. acarolinerb@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Ana Caroline Ramos de
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Brito
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Odontologia de Piracicaba, Universidade Estadual de Campinas. Av. Limeira 901, Areião. 13414-903 Piracicaba SP Brasil. acarolinerb@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Helena Aguiar Ribeiro
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Nascimento
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Odontologia de Piracicaba, Universidade Estadual de Campinas. Av. Limeira 901, Areião. 13414-903 Piracicaba SP Brasil. acarolinerb@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Rafaela
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Argento
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Odontologia de Piracicaba, Universidade Estadual de Campinas. Av. Limeira 901, Areião. 13414-903 Piracicaba SP Brasil. acarolinerb@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Thamara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Beline
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Odontologia de Piracicaba, Universidade Estadual de Campinas. Av. Limeira 901, Areião. 13414-903 Piracicaba SP Brasil. acarolinerb@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Glaucia Maria Bovi
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Ambrosano
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Odontologia de Piracicaba, Universidade Estadual de Campinas. Av. Limeira 901, Areião. 13414-903 Piracicaba SP Brasil. acarolinerb@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Deborah Queiroz
authors.initials: DQ
authors.lastname: Freitas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000792:Angiography / Q000379:methods; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D015984:Causality; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D015995:Prevalence; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D061205:Vascular Calcification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology