One Year Prevalence Study on Soft Tissue Opacities in Panorarnic Radiography in Patients Referred to Radiology Department of Mashhad Dental School

Soft tissue opacities are almost common findings seen in panoramic radiography. These opacities include calcification of stylohyoid complex, tonsilolith, calcification of lymph nodes, carotid biforcation calcification, sialolith, rhinolith, antrolith, and myositis ossificant and osteoma cutis. The aim of the study was to report the prevalence of soft tissue calcifications in panoramic radiographs, their differential diagnosis, to determine risk factors and also to record and examine any symptoms observed. In this descriptive study, panoramic radiographs of 671 patients referring to the radiology department of Mashhad dental school were examined for one year and soft tissue calcification prevalence, their locations and some associated factors such as age, sex, marital status, risk factors and signs and symptoms were determined. The calcification of stylohyoid complex was measured. The data were analysed by chi-square and Fisher's exact tests. The pervalence of soft tissue calcifications was 58% for elongated stylohyoid process, 39.66% for tonsilolith, 25.86% for calcified lymph node, 8.62% for calcification for carotid bifbrcation, 6.90% for osteoma cutis, 5.17% for sialolith, 3.45% for calcified thyroid cartilage and 1.72% for antrolith. A significant correlation between the length of stylohyoid complex calcification and age was found (P<0.001). The study showed that styloid process greater than 45 mm should be considered as pathologic or suspicious calcification of stylohyoid complex. In addition, detection of calcified atherosclerotic plaque on panoramic radiographs should be regarded as an alarming factor for neurovascular accidents.