Lingual tonsillolith: prevalence and imaging characteristics evaluated on 2244 pairs of panoramic radiographs and CT images
Lingual tonsillolith: prevalence and imaging characteristics evaluated on 2244 pairs of panoramic radiographs and CT images
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DOI：
10.1259/dmfr.20170251
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发表时间：
2018-01-01
影响因子：
3.3
通讯作者：
Miyamoto, Youji
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Takahashi, Akira;Sugawara, Chieko;Miyamoto, Youji
目的：舌扁桃体结石在临床上可能很常见，但在放射科医生中并不像腭扁桃体结石那样广为人知。本调查的目的是澄清舌扁桃体结石的患病率和影像学特点，使用全景X线片和CT images.Methods：本研究包括2244例无病理的舌根谁进行了全景X线片和CT的颌面部。结果：舌侧扁桃体结石的发生率分别为1.5%（33/33）和4.8%（108/108）。年龄>= 40岁的患者的患病率高于年龄< 40岁的患者（chi（2），p < 0.01）。在曲面断层片上，钙化灶多位于口咽气道前缘近前方（1-17 mm）。舌扁桃体结石分别位于下颌骨体下、下颌角后下和下颌骨后的软组织上16例（48.5%）、15例（45.5%）和1例（3.0%）。CT扫描结果显示，扁桃体结石的检出率与其大小有显著相关性（斯皮尔曼相关系数r = 0.961，p < 0.01）。它们也出现在全景X线摄影上，并可能覆盖下颌骨周围的软组织。虽然舌扁桃体结石可能类似于其他病理性钙化，包括下颌下涎石和舌骨胆固醇瘤，但通过仔细观察全景X线片可以将其区分开来。当临床医师在舌根附近发现钙化体时，舌扁桃体结石应列入鉴别诊断。
Objectives: Lingual tonsilloliths are not as well-known to radiologists than palatine tonsilloliths, although they might be common in clinical practice. The aim of this investigation was to clarify the prevalence and imaging characteristics of lingual tonsilloliths using panoramic radiographs and CT images.Methods: This study included 2244 patients without pathology at the base of tongue who had undergone panoramic radiography and CT of the maxillofacial region. The size, number and position of lingual tonsilloliths relative to the mandible and tongue were evaluated.Results: Lingual tonsilloliths were observed in 33 (1.5%) and 108 (4.8%) of all patients on panoramic radiographs and CT images, respectively. The prevalence was higher in patients aged >= 40 years than in those aged < 40 years (chi(2), p < 0.01). They appeared as small, round-or rod-shaped calcified bodies, and they always located closely anterior (1-17 mm) to the anterior border of oropharyngeal airway on panoramic radiographs. Lingual tonsilloliths were superimposed over the surrounding soft tissue inferior to the body of the mandible, posteroinferior to the angle of the mandible and posterior to the mandible in 16 (48.5%), 15 (45.5%) and 1 (3.0%) individual, respectively. A significant correlation was observed between the detectability on panoramic radiographs and size (Spearman's r = 0.961, p < 0.01) of tonsilloliths, as revealed by CT images.Conclusion: Lingual tonsilloliths commonly appear on CT. They also appear on panoramic radiography and may superimpose the surrounding soft tissue of the mandible. Although lingual tonsilloliths may resemble other pathological calcifications including submandibular sialoliths and lingual osseous cholistoma, they can be differentiated by carefully observing panoramic radiographs. When clinicians detect calcified bodies near the base of tongue, lingual tonsilloliths should be included in the differential diagnoses.