Imaging Science in Dentistry

Korean Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology (대한영상치의학회)
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Rare finding of Eustachian tube calcifications with cone-beam computed tomography

  • Syed, Ali Z. (Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, CWRU School of Dental Medicine) ;
  • Hawkins, Anna (CWRU School of Dental Medicine) ;
  • Alluri, Leela Subashini (Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, CWRU School of Dental Medicine) ;
  • Jadallah, Buthainah (Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, CWRU School of Dental Medicine) ;
  • Shahid, Kiran (Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, CWRU School of Dental Medicine) ;
  • Landers, Michael (Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, CWRU School of Dental Medicine) ;
  • Assaf, Hussein M. (Department of Comprehensive Care, CWRU School of Dental Medicine)
  • Received : 2017.07.11
  • Accepted : 2017.09.05
  • Published : 2017.12.31
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Abstract

Soft tissue calcification is a pathological condition in which calcium and phosphate salts are deposited in the soft tissue organic matrix. This study presents an unusual calcification noted in the cartilaginous portion of the Eustachian tube. A 67-year-old woman presented for dental treatment, specifically for implant placement, and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) was performed. The CBCT scan was reviewed by a board-certified oral and maxillofacial radiologist and revealed incidental findings of 2 distinct calcifications in the cartilaginous portion of the Eustachian tube. To the authors' knowledge, no previous study has reported the diagnosis of Eustachian tube calcification using CBCT. This report describes an uncommon variant of Eustachian tube calcification, which has a significant didactic value because such cases are seldom illustrated either in textbooks or in the literature. This case once again underscores the importance of having CBCT scans evaluated by a board-certified oral and maxillofacial radiologist.

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References

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