Evaluation of the presence of laryngeal cartilage calcification inpanoramic images in a group of thyroid patients

The deposition of minerals in soft tissues that normally deposited in the skeleton are called soft tissue calcification/ossifications. Laryngeal cartilage calcifications, carotid artery calcification, tonsillolith, sialolith, calcified lymph nodes, and stylohyoid ligament ossification are the most common soft tissue calcifications that are seen on the panoramic images which dentists are frequently used. Thyroid and triticeous cartilages are the most common cartilages that show calcification among the larynx cartilages. Since they are hyaline cartilage, they tend to calcify with age. Calcification of the thyroid cartilage continues throughout life and increases with age. Thyroid diseases are very common diseases in the society and affect many systems, including bone metabolism. The aim of this study is to investigate the presence of thyroid and triticeous cartilage calcifications in panoramic images of thyroid patients. In our study, panoramic images of 173 individuals (82 study group, 91 control group) aged 18 and over, who applied to Hacettepe University, Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Dentomaxillofacial Radiology between January 2019 and March 2021 were examined. The calcification age was found similar between the study group and the control group. However, the incidence of thyroid and tritiseous cartilage calcifications was found significantly higher in thyroid patients compared to the healthy group (p=0.000). It is thought that the reason of this finding could be the mechanical and hormonal changes that may affect calcifications in the thyroid gland. Keywords: Calcification, laryngeal cartilage, panoramic radiography, thyroid diseases