Frequency of Carotid Artery Calcification: A Cone-Beam Computed Tomography Radiography in an Iranian Population

Masoud Esmaeili; Seyed Hossein Razavi; Shamsoddin Yousefi; Ameneh  Hosseini-Yekani; Zahra Amiri; Yaser Safi

doi:10.18502/ssu.v33i1.18308

Masoud Esmaeili Oral and maxillofacial radiologist, Private office, Gorgan, Iran
Seyed Hossein Razavi Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
Shamsoddin Yousefi Dentist, Private office, Yazd, Iran
Ameneh Hosseini-Yekani Department of Dental Public Health, School of Dentistry, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
Zahra Amiri Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
Yaser Safi Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, School of Dentistry, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ssu.v33i1.18308

Keywords: Vascular calcification, Carotid artery, CBCT.

Abstract

Introduction: Calcification of the carotid artery wall can serve as a primary pathology that early detection can prevent adverse outcomes in patients. Therefore, in this study, the prevalence of carotid artery calcification in an Iranian population was assessed by CBCT radiography.

Methods: In this cross-sectional descriptive study, 320 CBCT images taken at a private oral and maxillofacial radiology center in Tehran City during 1395-1399 were reviewed. The patients’ age and gender were recorded, and these images were used to examine the carotid artery for calcification. Data were analyzed using SPSS17 software along with Chi-Square and t-test analyses.

Results: Out of all radiographs, carotid artery calcification was diagnosed in 11 cases (3.4%) among patients with a mean age of 52.55±20.07 years, including 8 men and 3 women A statistically significant association was found between carotid artery calcification and both sex (P = 0.048) and age (P = 0.000) of the patients.

Conclusion: Based on the results of the present study, the frequency of carotid artery calcification was low in the study population. The frequency of this complication was higher in older people and men.