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ID 113564
Title Alternative
CT imaging of nasopharyngeal and eustachian tube tonsilloliths
Author
Sugawara, Chieko Tokushima Prefectural Central Hospital KAKEN Search Researchers
Keywords
nasopharynx
eustachian tube
tonsil
calculi
computed tomography
X-Ray
Content Type
Journal Article
Description
Objectives: Nasopharyngeal tonsilloliths (NT) and eustachian tube tonsilloliths (ET) are not as well-known to radiologists as palatine and lingual tonsilloliths. The aim of this investigation was to determine the prevalence and imaging characteristics of NT and ET using CT and panoramic radiographs.
Methods: We retrospectively assessed the scans of 2244 patients who underwent consecutive CT and panoramic radiographs of the maxillofacial region. The prevalence, size, number, and position of NT and ET were analysed.
Results: NT and ET were detected in 14 (0.6%) and 6 (0.3%) of 2244 patients on CT, respectively, but they were undetectable on panoramic radiographs. No significant difference was found in the prevalence with respect to sex. Although there was also no significant difference in the prevalence among age groups, tonsilloliths were most commonly noted in patients over 40 years old; they appeared as small and round calcified bodies, ranging from 1 to 3 mm in diameter. All NT were found 0 to 3 mm beneath the nasopharyngeal mucosal surface.
Conclusions: The prevalence of NT and ET on CT was lower than that of palatine and lingual tonsilloliths. However, since they are encountered more frequently than clinically significant calcifying diseases such as retropharyngeal calcific tendinitis, clinicians should be able to correctly diagnose NT and ET based on their anatomical features.
Journal Title
Dentomaxillofacial Radiology
ISSN
0250832X
1476542X
NCID
AA00625627
Publisher
British Institute of Radiology
Volume
47
Issue
7
Start Page
20180052
Published Date
2018-05-10
EDB ID
DOI (Published Version)
URL ( Publisher's Version )
FullText File
language
eng
TextVersion
Publisher
departments
University Hospital
Oral Sciences