Prevalence of soft tissue calcification in panoramic radiographs in a selected population in Northern of Iran

soft tissue calcification is a relatively common issue in panoramic radiography. Some of these calcifications may have non-specific clinical symptoms as feeling of foreign body, dysphagia, otalgia and non-reflective cough. So for correct diagnosis and avoiding incorrect and excess treatments it’s necessary to have information about prevalence of these calcifications in regional populations. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of soft tissue calcification in panoramic radiographs in a selected Iranian population.
In this cross sectional study, panoramic radiographs of 5000 patients referring to Oral & Maxillofacial radiology department of Babol dental school from 2014 to 2017 were examined. Prevalence of soft tissue calcification, their location and factors such as age and sex were examined.
The prevalence of soft tissue calcifications was 484 subjects (9.7%) for elongated stylohyoid process, 52 subjects (1%) for tonsilolith, 9 subjects (0.2%) for calcified lymph node, 22 subjects (0.4%) for calcified carotid artery bifurcation,17 subjects (0.3%)for calcified thyroid cartilage. There was not found any rhinolith, antrolith and sialolith.
The prevalence of tonsilolith (34to18) and calcified thyroid cartilage(7to2) was significantly higher in men than. (p= 0.002, 0.048)
The prevalence of calcification of stylohyoid complex (p=0.001), tonsilolith (p=0.001), calcified thyroid cartilage (p=0.003) and calcification of carotid artery (p=0.001) significantly increases with age.
The study showed that the prevalence of soft tissue calcifications was 11.68% (584 case).