Characteristics of Calcification of the Thyroid and Triteiceus Cartilage on Panoramic X-rays in Adult Patients at the Dr. René Puig Bentz Dental Clinic at UNPHU
Description
Thyroid and triticeous cartilage calcifications may be incidentally observed on panoramic radiographs, and their recognition is important for differentiating them from other soft-tissue calcifications in the cervical region. The objective of this study was to determine the radiographic characteristics of these calcifications in adult patients attending the Dr. René Puig Bentz Dental Clinic at Universidad Nacional Pedro Henríquez Ureña (UNPHU), Dominican Republic. An observational, descriptive, and retrospective study was conducted using panoramic radiographs obtained between September and December 2025. Of the 572 radiographs evaluated, 72 met the inclusion criteria and the diagnostic quality required for analysis. Among these, 14 (19.4%) showed triticeous cartilage calcification, 38 (52.8%) showed thyroid cartilage calcification, and 20 (27.8%) showed both calcifications. Thyroid cartilage calcification was predominantly bilateral (56.9%), whereas triticeous cartilage calcification was predominantly unilateral (73.5%). Both calcifications were more frequent in patients older than 46 years and showed a higher frequency among females. The dataset contains demographic and radiographic information, including age, sex, type of calcification, anatomical distribution, affected side, morphology, borders, size, and internal density. These data allow the radiographic presentation of both calcifications to be characterized and may contribute to their recognition and differentiation from other soft-tissue calcifications observed on panoramic radiographs.
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Steps to reproduce
The data were obtained by reviewing panoramic radiographs stored in the Planmeca Romexis 4.2.1.R dental software at the Dr. René Puig Bentz Dental Clinic of Universidad Nacional Pedro Henríquez Ureña (UNPHU), radiographs corresponding to the academic period from September-December 2025 were evaluated. For the study panoramic radiographs corresponding to the established period were selected, and the inclusion and exclusion criteria defined in the research were applied, radiographs from patients over 18 years of age were considered, and the presence of thyroid and/or triticeous cartilage calcifications was evaluated. Each radiograph was reviewed to identify calcification findings. The information was recorded using a digital data collection form created in Google Forms, which had been previously validated by the project advisors and two faculty members from the radiology department. Sociodemographic data, such as age and sex, as well as radiographic variables related to the type and characteristics of the calcifications, including size, shape, and location, were collected. Once the radiographic review and data collection were completed, the information was processed using Microsoft Excel and SPSS to perform the statistical analysis and obtain distributions according to calcification characteristics, age, sex, and unilateral or bilateral presentation.
Institutions
- Universidad Nacional Pedro Henríquez UreñaNacional, Santo Domingo