Calcium quantity in carotid plaques: detection in panoramic radiographs and association with degree of stenosis

Maria Garoff; Elias Johansson; Jan Ahlqvist; Conny Arnerlöv; Eva Levring Jäghagen; Per Wester

doi:10.1016/j.oooo.2015.04.010

Calcium quantity in carotid plaques: detection in panoramic radiographs and association with degree of stenosis

Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol. 2015 Aug;120(2):269-74. doi: 10.1016/j.oooo.2015.04.010. Epub 2015 Apr 25.

Authors

Maria Garoff¹, Elias Johansson², Jan Ahlqvist³, Conny Arnerlöv⁴, Eva Levring Jäghagen³, Per Wester⁵

Affiliations

¹ Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Department of Odontology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden. Electronic address: maria.garoff@umu.se.
² Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden; Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Neuroscience, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
³ Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Department of Odontology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
⁴ Department of Surgical and Perioperative Sciences, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
⁵ Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.

PMID: 26166031
DOI: 10.1016/j.oooo.2015.04.010

Abstract

Objective: To determine calcium volume in extirpated carotid plaques, analyze correlations between calcium volume and degree of stenosis, and analyze whether calcium volume influences the possibility of detecting stenosis in panoramic radiographs.

Study design: Ninety-seven consecutive patients with ultrasonography-verified carotid stenosis were examined with panoramic radiography before surgery. Extirpated carotid plaques (n = 103) were analyzed for calcium volume by cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). Panoramic radiographs were analyzed for carotid calcifications.

Results: The median calcium volume was 45 mm(3) (first quartile subtracted from the third quartile [IQR], 14-98 mm(3)). We observed no correlation between calcium volume and degree of stenosis. Seventy-eight stenoses were situated within the region included in the panoramic radiographs, and their volumes ranged from 0 to 509 mm(3). Of these, 99% revealed carotid calcifications on panoramic radiographs.

Conclusions: We found no association between calcium volume and degree of carotid stenosis. Calcium volume did not influence the possibility of detecting carotid calcifications in panoramic radiographs.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Calcinosis / diagnostic imaging*
Carotid Stenosis / diagnostic imaging*
Cone-Beam Computed Tomography
Endarterectomy, Carotid
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Plaque, Atherosclerotic / diagnostic imaging*
Radiography, Panoramic*