PREVALENCE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF SOFT TISSUE CALCIFICATIONS IN CBCT IMAGES OF MANDIBULAR REGION

Objectives: The goal of the study is to evaluate the prevalence and characteristics of soft tissue calcifications (STCs) detected in the mandibular region in CBCT images. Methods: 242 (150 female, 92 male) mandibula CBCT images were evaluated in this study. Prevalence, anatomical location, pattern (bilateral or unilateral), size (mm), number (single or multiple), age ( 50) and gender tendency were recorded. Images were evaluated in the axial, coronal and 3D reformated images. The Chi-square test was used to test for differences of the STC groups and the percentage values. Results: 88 patients (36.4%) had at least one STC in the mandibular region. The mean age of the patients with STC was 58.3±11.06 years. No gender predilection was stated in terms of the presence of STC. STC was higher in patients over 50 years than the other age groups (p=0.00). Most of the STCs were unilateral, above 3mm in size, single and located in the lingual aspect of the mandible. Conclusion: It is of vital importance for clinicians to know characteristics of STCs and to detect STCs in early stages especially those concerning systemic conditions and to prevent life-threatening consequences.