Prevalence of soft tissue calcifications in cone beam computed tomography images of the mandible =Prevalência de calcifica es em tecido mole na regi o mandibular avaliadas por dois sistemas de tomografia computadorizada por feixe c nico

Objetivo: Determinar a prevalência de calcifica es em tecido mole na regi o mandibular por meio de análise de imagens axiais provenientes de dois sistemas de tomografia computadorizada por feixe c nico (TCFC), NewTom 3G e Classic i-Cat . Método: Foram avaliadas 246 imagens da regi o mandibular. Destas, 163 foram adquiridas no aparelho NewTom 3G e 83 no aparelho Classic i-Cat . A análise estatística foi baseada no teste exato de Fisher e no teste Qui-quadrado para compara o das propor es. Resultados: Das 246 imagens, 37 apresentaram calcifica es em tecido mole. N o houve diferen a significativa entre gêneros em termos de prevalência. Pacientes entre 40-65 anos foram os mais afetados. A prevalência de calcifica es em tecido mole na regi o mandibular foi de 15%, n o havendo diferen a significante entre os dois sistemas de TCFC quanto à qualidade das imagens para o diagnóstico (P > 0,05). Conclus o: Os sistemas de TCFC avaliados mostraram-se ferramentas valiosas na identifica o de calcifica es em tecido mole, embora as imagens n o permitam exata localiza o destas calcifica es. Purpose: To determine the prevalence of soft tissue calcifications in the mandible in cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans. Methods: The sample was composed by 246 CBCT scans of the mandible; 163 were acquired by the NewTom 3G system, and 83 were acquired by the Classic i-Cat system. When the presence of soft tissue calcification was confirmed in the mandible, the anatomical location and the type of calcification (single or multiple) were determined. Elongated styloid process and ossification of the stylohyoid ligament were excluded. Data were analyzed by using Fisher’s exact test and chi-square tests. Results: A total of 37 out of 246 scans showed soft tissue calcifications in the mandible (prevalence of 15%). Soft tissue calcification is predominant at posterior region of the mandible (18. 9%), with no relation to gender and age. From the total of patients with soft tissue calcification, 73% were aged 35-55 year-old. There was no significant difference of diagnostic quality of the images between the CBCT systems (P > 0. 05). Conclusion: The prevalence of soft tissue calcifications was high in this sample using CBCT images for diagnosis in the mandibular region.