| The aim of the study was to determine the incidence and imaging characteristics of soft tissue calcifications on cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). 556 CBCT image datasets were reviewed and 308 included. The following conditions were recorded: 1) Carotid artery calcifications (CAC), 2) Triticeous cartilage (TC), 3) Superior cornu of the thyroid cartilage (SCT), 4) Tonsilloliths (T) and, 5) Other including lymph nodes (0). The age and sex of patients who were excluded served as controls. 107 (34.75%) demonstrated at least one calcification. Those with calcifications were approximately 12 years older than controls (t value = 6.32, p<0.001). The incidence of calcifications in decreasing order are TC (11.4%), CAC (10.4%), T (10.4%) and, SCT (5.2%). Differential location and appearance of calcifications were described. Soft tissue calcifications were a common finding with TC, CAC and T presenting in almost equal frequency. Calcifications exhibit unique characteristics on CBCT images. |
