Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of carotid artery calcification (CAC) detected on panoramic radiographs and peripheral arterial disease (PAD), and to evaluate the difference in the prevalence of PAD between patients with CAC and patients without CAC detectable by panoramic radiograph.

Methods: The surveyed population consisted of 4078 subjects aged 50 years and older (1410 males and 2668 females) who underwent medical and dental examination in Gwangju city, South Korea. Two oral and maxillofacial radiologists interpreted the panoramic radiographs for the presence of carotid artery calcification. A trained research technician measured the ankle–brachial index (ABI). An ABI <0.9 in either leg was considered evidence of PAD.

Results: The prevalence of CAC on panoramic radiographs was 6.2% and that of PAD was 2.6%. Subjects with CAC had a significantly higher prevalence of PAD than those without CAC (5.5% vs 2.4%, respectively). The presence of CAC on panoramic radiographs was associated with PAD (odds ratio 1.84 95% confidence interval 1.01–3.36) after adjusting for potential confounders.

Conclusion: CACs detected on panoramic radiographs were positively associated with PAD in middle-aged and older Korean adults.

Source: DentoMaxilloFacial Radiology

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