Detection of calcified atheromas on panoramic radiographs of cirrhotic patients

The present study aimed to investigate the prevalence of calcified atheromas in carotid arteries (CACA) on panoramic radiographs of patients with liver cirrhosis (LC).

A case-control study of 67 individuals with LC (case group) and 67 healthy individuals (control group), matched by gender and age, was performed. In addition to demographic information, data on LC were also collected for the case group. Panoramic radiographs were evaluated by two previously calibrated examiners. The sample consisted predominantly of male individuals (n = 50; 74.62%), with mean age of 55 years old. In the case group, the mean value for the model of end-stage liver disease was 16, and the major aetiology of LC was alcoholism (n = 26; 38.8%). Thirteen (19.4%) LC patients had CACA, whereas only four (5.9%) healthy patients had this condition. LC patients are 3.72 times more likely to have CACA compared to healthy individuals (P = .02). The presence of nephropathies increases the risk of development of atheromas by 18.58 times in cirrhotic individuals (P = .04).

Cirrhotic patients are more likely to have CACA compared to healthy patients, and this risk increases significantly when kidney disease is involved.