IMPORTANCE OF PANORAMIC RADIOGRAPHY AND CONE BEAM COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY IN THE EARLY DIAGNOSIS OF ATHEROSCLEROTIC PLAQUE

• Published in: Oral surgery, oral medicine, oral pathology and oral radiology Vol. 129; no. 1; p. e28
• Main Authors: ANTUNES, FLAVIO LUCENA, VILLORIA, EDUARDO MURAD, SOUKI, BERNARDO QUIROGA, SPPYRIDES, KYRIA SPYRO, SOARES, RODRIGO VILLAMARIM
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Inc 01-01-2020
• ISSN: 2212-4403; 2212-4411
• DOI: 10.1016/j.oooo.2019.06.065

Carotid stenosis usually results from the accumulation of atherosclerotic plaque in the carotid artery wall and is an important risk factor for ischemic cerebral vascular accident (CVA). A male patient was referred to a dental radiology clinic to perform panoramic radiography (PR) and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) for dental evaluation. In the PR and CBCT, a radiopaque image was observed above the hyoid bone and adjacent to the cervical spine, on the right side, suggestive of atheroma in the extracranial carotid artery and the diagnosis was confirmed by color Doppler ultrasonography. In the CBCT, the presence of calcification in the intracranial internal carotid artery was also observed. Diagnostic imaging exams used in dentistry allow the identification of asymptomatic individuals, facilitating early intervention and consequent reduction in the risk of ischemic CVA.