Prevalence and Imaging Characteristics of Palatine Tonsilloliths Detected by CT in 2,873 Consecutive Patients
Aim. Tonsilloliths are calcified structures that develop in tonsillar crypts. They are commonly detected in daily clinical practice. The prevalence of tonsilloliths was 16 to 24% in previous reports, but it is inconsistent with clinical experience. The aim of this study is to clarify the prevalence,...
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| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2014-01-01
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| Series: | The Scientific World Journal |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/940960 |
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| author | Akira Takahashi Chieko Sugawara Takaharu Kudoh Daisuke Uchida Tetsuya Tamatani Hirokazu Nagai Youji Miyamoto |
| author_facet | Akira Takahashi Chieko Sugawara Takaharu Kudoh Daisuke Uchida Tetsuya Tamatani Hirokazu Nagai Youji Miyamoto |
| author_sort | Akira Takahashi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Aim. Tonsilloliths are calcified structures that develop in tonsillar crypts. They are commonly detected in daily clinical practice. The prevalence of tonsilloliths was 16 to 24% in previous reports, but it is inconsistent with clinical experience. The aim of this study is to clarify the prevalence, number, and size distribution of tonsilloliths using computed tomography (CT) in a relatively large number of patients. Materials and Methods. We retrospectively reviewed the scans of 2,873 patients referred for CT examinations with regard to tonsilloliths. Results. Palatine tonsilloliths were found in 1,145 out of 2,873 patients (39.9%). The prevalence of tonsilloliths increased with age, and most commonly in patients of ages 50–69. The prevalence in the 30s and younger was statistically lower than in the 40s and older (P < 0.05). The number of tonsilloliths per palatine tonsil ranged from one to 18. The size of the tonsilloliths ranged from 1 to 10 mm. For the patients with multiple CT examinations, the number of tonsilloliths increased in 51 (3.9%) and decreased in 84 (6.5%) of the tonsils. Conclusions. As palatine tonsilloliths are common conditions, screenings for tonsilloliths during the diagnosis of soft tissue calcifications should be included in routine diagnostic imaging. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-549d9f5e12e84fd595e9799c63404dfc |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2356-6140 1537-744X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2014-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The Scientific World Journal |
| spelling | doaj-art-549d9f5e12e84fd595e9799c63404dfc2025-02-03T01:31:13ZengWileyThe Scientific World Journal2356-61401537-744X2014-01-01201410.1155/2014/940960940960Prevalence and Imaging Characteristics of Palatine Tonsilloliths Detected by CT in 2,873 Consecutive PatientsAkira Takahashi0Chieko Sugawara1Takaharu Kudoh2Daisuke Uchida3Tetsuya Tamatani4Hirokazu Nagai5Youji Miyamoto6Department of Oral Surgery, Institute of Health Biosciences, Tokushima University Graduate School, 3-18-15 Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima 770-8504, JapanDepartment of Comprehensive Dentistry, Institute of Health Biosciences, Tokushima University Graduate School, 3-18-15 Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima 770-8504, JapanDepartment of Oral Surgery, Institute of Health Biosciences, Tokushima University Graduate School, 3-18-15 Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima 770-8504, JapanDepartment of Oral Surgery, Institute of Health Biosciences, Tokushima University Graduate School, 3-18-15 Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima 770-8504, JapanDepartment of Oral Surgery, Institute of Health Biosciences, Tokushima University Graduate School, 3-18-15 Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima 770-8504, JapanDepartment of Oral Surgery, Institute of Health Biosciences, Tokushima University Graduate School, 3-18-15 Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima 770-8504, JapanDepartment of Oral Surgery, Institute of Health Biosciences, Tokushima University Graduate School, 3-18-15 Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima 770-8504, JapanAim. Tonsilloliths are calcified structures that develop in tonsillar crypts. They are commonly detected in daily clinical practice. The prevalence of tonsilloliths was 16 to 24% in previous reports, but it is inconsistent with clinical experience. The aim of this study is to clarify the prevalence, number, and size distribution of tonsilloliths using computed tomography (CT) in a relatively large number of patients. Materials and Methods. We retrospectively reviewed the scans of 2,873 patients referred for CT examinations with regard to tonsilloliths. Results. Palatine tonsilloliths were found in 1,145 out of 2,873 patients (39.9%). The prevalence of tonsilloliths increased with age, and most commonly in patients of ages 50–69. The prevalence in the 30s and younger was statistically lower than in the 40s and older (P < 0.05). The number of tonsilloliths per palatine tonsil ranged from one to 18. The size of the tonsilloliths ranged from 1 to 10 mm. For the patients with multiple CT examinations, the number of tonsilloliths increased in 51 (3.9%) and decreased in 84 (6.5%) of the tonsils. Conclusions. As palatine tonsilloliths are common conditions, screenings for tonsilloliths during the diagnosis of soft tissue calcifications should be included in routine diagnostic imaging.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/940960 |
| spellingShingle | Akira Takahashi Chieko Sugawara Takaharu Kudoh Daisuke Uchida Tetsuya Tamatani Hirokazu Nagai Youji Miyamoto Prevalence and Imaging Characteristics of Palatine Tonsilloliths Detected by CT in 2,873 Consecutive Patients The Scientific World Journal |
| title | Prevalence and Imaging Characteristics of Palatine Tonsilloliths Detected by CT in 2,873 Consecutive Patients |
| title_full | Prevalence and Imaging Characteristics of Palatine Tonsilloliths Detected by CT in 2,873 Consecutive Patients |
| title_fullStr | Prevalence and Imaging Characteristics of Palatine Tonsilloliths Detected by CT in 2,873 Consecutive Patients |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prevalence and Imaging Characteristics of Palatine Tonsilloliths Detected by CT in 2,873 Consecutive Patients |
| title_short | Prevalence and Imaging Characteristics of Palatine Tonsilloliths Detected by CT in 2,873 Consecutive Patients |
| title_sort | prevalence and imaging characteristics of palatine tonsilloliths detected by ct in 2 873 consecutive patients |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/940960 |
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