Soft tissue calcification is a pathological condition in which calcium and phosphate salts are deposited in the soft tissue organic matrix. This study presents an unusual calcification noted in the cartilaginous portion of the Eustachian tube. A 67-year-old woman presented for dental treatment, specifically for implant placement, and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) was performed. The CBCT scan was reviewed by a board-certified oral and maxillofacial radiologist and revealed incidental findings of 2 distinct calcifications in the cartilaginous portion of the Eustachian tube. To the authors' knowledge, no previous study has reported the diagnosis of Eustachian tube calcification using CBCT. This report describes an uncommon variant of Eustachian tube calcification, which has a significant didactic value because such cases are seldom illustrated either in textbooks or in the literature. This case once again underscores the importance of having CBCT scans evaluated by a board-certified oral and maxillofacial radiologist.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the prevalence of medial vascular calcifications in the oral and maxillofacial region and their association with systemic diseases.Materials and MethodsThe study included 211 consecutive patients with systemic diseases (January 2015–May 2016). Medical history and radiographic images were evaluated. Univariate analysis (t‐test) was performed for continuous variables (age). The Chi square test was applied for the categorical variables (Mönckeberg medial arteriosclerosis [MMA], gender).ResultsThere was a 6.2% prevalence of MMA. The mean age of patients with MMA was 65.46 ± 13.38. The prevalence of kidney disease in patients with MMA was significantly higher than in those without MMA (p < 0.001). This finding was maintained even after adjusting for other systemic diseases (OR = 31.84 [8.63–136.78]).ConclusionA significant prevalence of MMA in kidney disease patients was observed in this pilot study.
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