Carotid Artery Calcifications on Panoramic Radiographs

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of carotid artery calcifications (CACs) on panoramic radiographs of Polish dental patients. Methods: Panoramic radiographs made between 2005 and 2012 in 4000 patients born between 1922 and 1958 were accessed from the server of the Department of Radiology and analyzed for the presence or absence of CACs by a group of trained dentists. Results: The anatomical area covered by the analysis was visible in 2189 images (54.73%). Calcifications in the carotid arteries were found in 468 (21.68%) patients, including 327 (14.94%) unilaterally and 141 (6.44%) bilaterally. CACs were found in 284 (60.68%) women and 184 (39.32%) men. Conclusions: The prevalence rate of CACs detected on panoramic radiographs in patients aged 54 and older was 21.68%, which makes it an important clinical problem.

CACSNet for automatic robust classification and segmentation of carotid artery calcification on panoramic radiographs using a cascaded deep learning network

“…As a result, PR is not commonly utilized for the purpose of screening for CAC in the oral healthcare setting. If CAC can be accurately diagnosed on PR with the help of an automatic method of detection (or classification) and segmentation, dental professionals can screen patients at risk of stroke more easily, and ensure that patients receive appropriate treatment 44 . Therefore, we developed CACSNet for automatic robust classification and segmentation of CACs with large variations in size, shape, and location, as well as CACs overlapping with surrounding anatomical structures.…”

Carotid Artery Calcification Detected on Panoramic Radiography Is Significantly Related to Cerebrovascular Accident, Coronary Artery Disease, and Poor Oral Health: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study

“…The prevalence of CAC detection on PRs in the general population ranges from 2% to 31.57% [1,4,[14][15][16][17][18][19]. Amongst patients 54 years and older, the prevalence reported was 21.68% [20], and amongst African American adult females, the prevalence reported was 24% [21]. The accuracy of PRs in the identification of CAC remains inconclusive [13,22,23].…”

Carotid artery calcification detected on the panoramic radiographs

“…The panoramic radiography is a simple and useful aid in indicating patients at the high risk of cerebrovascular accident (CVA) due to the visibility of carotid artery calcification (CAC) on the panoramic radiographs, while the CAC was first described as the carotid arterial plaques identified on the panoramic radiographs in 1981. 1 , 2 The CAC is usually located at the carotid artery bifurcation areas. The verticolinear, nodular, or heterogeneous nodular radiopaque mass or masses can be found on the panoramic radiographs within the neck soft tissues adjacent to the cervical vertebrae C3–C4 (intervertebral junction) and approximately 1.5–2.5 cm posteroinferior to the bilateral mandibular angles.…”

“…Early detection, diagnosis, and related medical treatment of patients at the risk of CVA may reduce the prevalence of strokes, and the mortality and morbidity due to the CVA. 2 …”

“…However, the CAC should be differentiated from anatomical structures such as epiglottis, hyoid bone, calcified stylohyoid ligament, and thyroid cartilages, as well as from pathological conditions such as phleboliths, sialoliths, tonsilloliths, and calcified lymph nodes. 2 , 4 Therefore, for detecting the CAC, further diagnostic procedures (such as neck ultrasound, computed tomography, and angiography examinations) should be performed to confirm the carotid artery stenosis due to the CAC. 5 …”