Prevalence of soft tissue calcifications in the maxillofacial region detected by cone beam CT.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of soft tissue calcifications in cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans with different fields of view (FOV) and to assess its relation with the clinical relevance of the CBCT findings.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: One thousand CBCT scans were grouped according to FOV's size and region scanned (MX-FOV, maxilla; MD-FOV, mandible; and MM-FOV, maxilla/mandible) and evaluated for the presence of soft tissue calcifications. Laterality and length of the elongated styloid processes (ESP) were also assessed.

RESULTS: Eight hundred and eighty-two soft tissue calcifications were detected in 626 (62.6%) patients. MM-FOV presented the highest prevalence (76.8%), followed by MD-FOV (60.6%) and MX-FOV (57.2%). ESP and tonsillolith were the most frequent calcifications. Calcifications requiring treatment or not and those in need of follow-up accounted for 6.9%, 92.7%, and 0.3% of cases, respectively. There was no association between calcifications and subjects' gender or age (p > .05). Most cases of ESP occurred bilaterally and were longer in males (p < .05).

CONCLUSIONS: There is a high prevalence of soft tissue calcifications in CBCT, and ESP and tonsilloliths are the most common types in all evaluated FOVs. While most cases do not require treatment, we emphasize the importance of detailed CBCT assessment for its diagnosis.