Ocorrência de imagens de ateroma de carótida em radiografias panorâmicas

Abstract

This study evaluated the prevalence of images suggestive of carotid atheroma in Panoramic Radiographs, and analyzed the association between risk factors for cardiovascular accidents and the presence of atheroma images on the panoramic radiographs through statistical analysis of the data collected. The present study was previously approved by the Ethics Committee for Human Research. The participants of this study agreed with the informed consent form presented during a routine panoramic radiography in the clinics of the Faculty of Dentistry of the Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul and answered a medical questionnaire about the presence of risk factors for accidents cardiovascular diseases. The data were tabulated and submitted to a statistical analysis. A total of 336 panoramic radiographs were evaluated. In 28 of them, images suggestive of carotid atheroma were observed, presenting a prevalence of 8.3% of the total number of participants. The mean age of patients without carotid atheroma was 38.33 ± 0.87 years, while the mean age of patients with carotid atheroma was 54.04 ± 1.90 years. presented a carotid atheroma, significantly higher than that observed among patients who did not present carotid atheroma (t-student test, p <0.001). The presence of atheroma was associated with dyslipidemia (p = 0.013) and hypertension (0.048). The percentage of participants who presented dyslipidemia and who had atheroma diagnosis (21.7% - n=5) was significantly higher than those participants who did not present dyslipidemia, who also had atheroma diagnosis (7.0% - n=19 ). The relative risk of presenting atheroma among dyslipidemics was 3.71 times higher than among non-dyslipidemic patients. The percentage of participants who had hypertension and who had atheroma diagnosis (14.3% - n=8) were significantly higher than those who did not present hypertension, who also had atheroma diagnosis (6.5% - n=17). The relative risk of presenting atheroma among hypertensives was 2.41 times higher than among nonhypertensive patients. We conclude from this study there was an association between the age of the patients, dyslipidemia and hypertension with the presence of carotid atheroma images. An accurate and thorough analysis of all the structures present in the panoramic radiographs is essential for the detection of images suggestive of carotid atheromas. The dental surgeon, if properly informed, can detect images suggestive of carotid atheromas and refer patients to a cardiologist for a cardiovascular evaluation and follow-up examinations, so that he can receive appropriate and timely treatment, potentially preventing an Accident Vascular Encephalic (AVE).