title: Pineal Gland Calcification in Kurdistan: A Cross-Sectional Study of 480 Roentgenograms.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The goal of this study was to compare the incidence of Pineal Gland Calcification (PGC) by age group and gender among the populations living in the Kurdistan Region-Iraq.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective study examined skull X-rays of 480 patients between the ages of 3 and 89 years who sought care at a large teaching public hospital in Duhok, Iraq from June 2014 to November 2014. Descriptive statistics and a binary logistic regression were used for analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall incidence rate of PGC among the study population was 26.9% with the 51-60 age group and males having the highest incidence. PGC incidence increased after the first decade and remained steady until the age of 60. Thereafter the incidence began to decrease. Logistic regression analysis revealed that both age and gender significantly affected the risk of PGC. After adjusting for age, males were 1.94 (95% CI, 1.26-2.99) times more likely to have PGC compared to females. In addition, a one year increase in age increases the odds of developing PGC by 1.02 (95% CI, 1.01-1.03) units after controlling for the effects of gender.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our analysis demonstrated a close relationship between PGC and age and gender, supporting a link between the development of PGC and these factors. This study provides a basis for future researchers to further investigate the nature and mechanisms underlying pineal gland calcification.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, College for Public Health and Social Justice, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States of America.|Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, University of Duhok, Duhok, Kurdistan-Iraq.
authors.forename: Kahee A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Mohammed
authors.affiliation: Center for Outcomes Research (SLUCOR), Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States of America.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9163-8103
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Adjei Boakye
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, University of Duhok, Duhok, Kurdistan-Iraq.
authors.forename: Honer A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Ismail
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, College for Public Health and Social Justice, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States of America.
authors.forename: Christian J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Geneus
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, College for Public Health and Social Justice, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States of America.
authors.forename: Betelihem B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Tobo
authors.affiliation: Center for Outcomes Research (SLUCOR), Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States of America.
authors.forename: Paula M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Buchanan
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, College for Public Health and Social Justice, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States of America.
authors.forename: Alan P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Zelicoff
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007493:Iraq / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult