Volume 24, Issue 104, July - August, 2020

Evaluation of concurrent ectopic calcifications in panoramic radiography in patients attending Jundishapur Ahvaz School of Dentistry

Mahshid Razavi¹, Ali Ghasemi Koosk Mola², Zohre Roozbahani^3♦

¹Assistant professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, School of Dental Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
²Dental Student, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, School of Dental Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
³Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology post graduate student, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, School of Dental Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.

^♦Corresponding author
Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology post graduate student, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, School of Dental Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Soft tissue opacities are relatively common cases seen in panoramic radiography. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the frequency of these opacities in panoramic radiographs and their differential diagnosis, as well as their concurrent incidence. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, panoramic radiographs of 384 patients attending Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology Clinic of the Jundishapur School of Dentistry. Prevalence of types of radiopacity, their location and some related factors such as age, gender and incidence were assessed. The data was then analyzed by SPSS software version 22 using Chisquare and Mann-Whitney tests. Results: Frequency of soft tissue radiopacities was as follows: tonsilloliths 3.9%, carotid artery arteriosclerosis calcification 21.8%, thyroid calcification 19%, antrolith 0.5%, pulp stone 9.9%, and stylohyoid ligament ossification 48%.The results of Chi-square test showed a significant relationship between the incidence of calcified atherosclerotic plaque and stylohyoid ligament ossification (P = 0.001) as well as a significant relationship between thyroid calcification and stylohyoid ligament ossification (P = 0.002). There was a significant difference between different age groups in terms of frequency of stylohyoid ligament ossification, calcified atherosclerotic plaque, thyroid cartilage calcification (p<0.001). Conclusion: Due to panoramic radiography prescribed by most dentists, it is important to consider soft tissue calcifications and ectopic calcifications. By observing these calculations, the dentists can introduce the patients to relevant specialist for further follow-up examinations.

Keywords: soft tissue calcification, panoramic radiography

Medical Science, 2020, 24(104), 2309-2319

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