Prevalence of soft tissue calcifications in cone beam computed tomography images of the mandible

Authors

  • Leiliane Fereira da Silva Nunes FACULDADE SÃO LEOPOLDO MANDIC
  • Karina Cecília Panelli Santos Faculty of Dentistry, University of São Paulo (USP)
  • José Luiz Cintra Junqueira Faculty of Dentistry São Leopoldo Mandic
  • Jefferson Xavier Oliveira Faculty of Dentistry, University of São Paulo (USP)

Keywords:

Cone beam computed tomography, hyperdense images, soft tissue calcification

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the prevalence of soft tissue calcifications in the mandible in cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans. Methods: The sample was composed by 246 CBCT scans of the mandible; 163 were acquired by the NewTom 3G® system, and 83 were acquired by the Classic i-Cat® system. When the presence of soft tissue calcification was confirmed in the mandible, the anatomical location and the type of calcification (single or multiple) were determined. Elongated styloid process and ossification of the stylohyoid ligament were excluded. Data were analyzed by using Fisher's exact test and chi-square tests. Results: A total of 37 out of 246 scans showed soft tissue calcifications in the mandible (prevalence of 15%). Soft tissue calcification is predominant at posterior region of the mandible (18.9%), with no relation to gender and age. From the total of patients with soft tissue calcification, 73% were aged 35-55 year-old. There was no significant difference of diagnostic quality of the images between the CBCT systems (P > 0.05). Conclusion: The prevalence of soft tissue calcifications was high in this sample using CBCT images for diagnosis in the mandibular region.

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Published

2011-11-15

Issue

Vol. 26 No. 4 (2011)

Section

Original Article

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