Kadyan Varsha, Vaddi Anusha, Nagpal Archna, Molina Marco R, Lurie Alan G, Tadinada Aditya
Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT 06030, USA.
Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Department of Oral Diagnostic Sciences, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry, Richmond, VA 23298, USA.
J Clin Med. 2024 May 29;13(11):3189. doi: 10.3390/jcm13113189.
The objective of this study was to develop a practical staging method for reporting external carotid artery calcifications (ECACs) using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging, specifically to standardize reporting for oral and maxillofacial radiologists. This retrospective study evaluated 489 CBCT scans for the presence of ECACs. Two calibrated evaluators assessed the scans in all three orthogonal planes, using the axial plane to develop the staging system. Calcifications were graded on a scale from 0 to 5. ECACs were found in 170 out of 489 scans (34.7%). There was a statistically significant increase in ECAC distribution with age progression. The prevalence of ECACs was similar between genders. Grade 1 calcifications were most common in the 51-60 age group, Grade 2 in the 61-70 and 71-80 groups, and Grades 3 and 4 in the 81-90 group. No Grade 5 calcifications were observed in any age group. The inter-rater reliability showed an excellent correlation in the identification and grading of ECACs. The proposed grading system enables oral and maxillofacial radiologists to quantitatively report ECACs, facilitating timely referrals to physicians for further evaluation and early intervention, thereby potentially reducing the risk of cardiovascular events.
本研究的目的是开发一种实用的分期方法，用于使用锥束计算机断层扫描（CBCT）成像报告颈外动脉钙化（ECACs），特别是为口腔颌面放射科医生规范报告。这项回顾性研究评估了489例CBCT扫描中是否存在ECACs。两名经过校准的评估人员在所有三个正交平面上评估扫描图像，使用轴向平面建立分期系统。钙化程度按0至5级进行分级。在489例扫描中有170例（34.7%）发现了ECACs。随着年龄增长，ECACs的分布有统计学意义的增加。ECACs在不同性别的患病率相似。1级钙化在51-60岁年龄组中最常见，2级在61-70岁和71-80岁年龄组中最常见，3级和4级在81-90岁年龄组中最常见。在任何年龄组中均未观察到5级钙化。评估者间信度在ECACs的识别和分级方面显示出极好的相关性。所提出的分级系统使口腔颌面放射科医生能够定量报告ECACs，便于及时转诊给医生进行进一步评估和早期干预，从而有可能降低心血管事件的风险。
