Assessment of Carotid Artery Calcification on Panoramic Radiographs in Diabetic and Non-Diabetic Subjects

Diabetes mellitus is a predisposing factor for atherosclerosis. Stroke is a result of carotid artery atherosclerosis. Panoramic radiographs can help diagnose atherosclerosis. The current study assessed the prevalence of calcifications of carotid artery in diabetic and non-diabetic cases on panoramic radiographs.

In this cross-sectional survey, the prevalence of carotid calcification in 40 diabetic and 80 non-diabetic patients was assessed in the Faculty of Dentistry, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences in 2014-15. All the patients underwent panoramic radiography and their demographic data, including age, gender, diabetic treatment received, duration of diabetes and fasting blood sugar were recorded. Then data of diabetic and non-diabetic cases were compared. Data were analyzed with SPSS 16, using chi-squared test, Fisher’s exact test and logistic regression (α = 0.05).

In radiographic assessment of diabetic patients, 13 cases had carotid artery calcification while only 7 cases of non-diabetics had carotid artery calcification (p value = 0.001). Variables of age, gender, type of diabetic treatment, duration of disease and fasting blood sugar did not exhibit any significant relationship with carotid artery calcification (p value > 0.05).

Based on the results of the present study, in panoramic radiography as a non-invasive technique, arterial calcification was higher among diabetic patients in comparison to non-diabetic subjects but this significant prevalence was not related with demographic factors. Further studies with larger sample sizes are recommended