Prevalence of Carotid Artery Atheromas in Postmenopausal Women: A Digital Panoramic Radiographic Study

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of calcified atherosclerotic lesions in the region of carotid bifurcation in a group of postmenopausal women using panoramic radiographs and to assess other atherogenic risk factors such as hypertension, obesity, diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidemia associated with carotid atheroma. Materials and methods: Digital panoramic radiographs of 44 postmenopausal women (age range; 48-76 years) with a history of amenorrhea of at least 12 months duration were examined on panoramic radiographs for any unusual radiopacities adjacent to or just below the intervertebral space between C3 and C4 and also assessed for risk factors associated with atherosclerosis. Results: Panoramic radiographs of 19 (43.2%) subjects revealed CCAA (calcified carotid artery atheroma).10 subjects (52.6%), revealed calcification on the left side. The medical histories of these subjects were heavily laden with atherogenic risk factors. Mainly hypertension (84.2%), hyperlipidemia (81.8%) to be highly significant atherogenic risk factors and obesity (31.6%), diabetes mellitus (36.8%) were not very significant atherogenic risk factors in postmenopausal women. Conclusion: Panoramic radiography is a simple, noninvasive tool in detecting calcified carotid artery calcification in the cervical portion of the common carotid artery and for identifying stroke-prone postmenopausal women during the course of routine dental examination. Patients with such calcifications may be at risk of experiencing stroke and should be referred to a physician for confirmation of the disease.