Ultrasound Screening for Carotid Stenosis in Patients with Calcifications
Author Information
Author(s): Johansson Elias P, Ahlqvist Jan, Garoff Maria, Karp Kjell, Jäghagen Eva Levring, Wester Per
Primary Institution: Umeå University
Hypothesis
Is directed screening for carotid stenosis with ultrasound indicated in individuals with calcifications in the area of the carotid arteries detected on panoramic radiographs?
Conclusion
Men with calcifications in the area of the carotid arteries should undergo carotid screening if they are otherwise eligible for asymptomatic carotid endarterectomy.
Supporting Evidence
- Calcification was seen in 176 of 1182 persons undergoing panoramic radiography.
- Eight persons (6.8%) had carotid stenosis, which was not significant over the 5% threshold.
- There was a significant sex difference, with all stenoses found in men.
Takeaway
If a doctor sees calcifications in your neck area on a dental X-ray, they might want to check your arteries with an ultrasound, especially if you're a man.
Methodology
This was a cross-sectional study where carotid ultrasound examinations were performed on individuals with calcifications detected on panoramic radiography.
Potential Biases
Potential selection bias as only individuals eligible for asymptomatic carotid endarterectomy were included.
Limitations
The study did not include individuals over 75 years of age and did not analyze the appearance of calcifications.
Participant Demographics
The study included 117 participants, with a higher prevalence of men and a mean age of 66.9 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.014
Confidence Interval
95% CI 4.2-20.8%
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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