Lingual tonsillolith: prevalence and imaging characteristics evaluated on 2244 pairs of panoramic radiographs and CT images

Correlation between the presence of tonsilloliths and the bone defects by periodontitis on imaging analysis: a pilot study

BACKGROUND

Very recently, a significant relationship between tonsilloliths and dental plaque-related pathologies was reported using digital panoramic radiographs. Their dynamics over time suggest that tonsilloliths may be in a permanently active phase that functions to remove foreign matter. The aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship between the occurrence of tonsilloliths and the extent of periodontitis.

METHODS

A total of 608 patients who underwent both CT and panoramic radiographs were included in the study. Both of two imaging were retrospectively and independently assessed with respect to the presence of tonsilloliths detected on CT and panoramic radiographs, and bone defects caused by periodontitis detected on panoramic radiographs. The type of retrospective study is case-control. Then, the differences between age groups were evaluated with respect to the degree of bone resorption and its correlation with the presence of tonsilloliths. The relationships between categorical variables were assessed using Pearson's correlation coefficient or Spearman's correlation coefficient.

RESULTS

There was a significant relationship between tonsilloliths on CT and the extent of the bone defect on panoramic radiographs (Spearman's correlation coefficient, r = 0.648, p = 0.043). In addition, there was a significant difference in the extent of the bone defect caused by periodontitis between subjects with and without tonsilloliths in the 60 to 69-year-old group (Mann-Whitney U test, p = 0.025), 70 to 79-year-old group (Mann-Whitney U test, p = 0.002), and 80 to 89-year-old group (Mann-Whitney U test, p = 0.022), but not in other age groups (Mann-Whitney U test: under 9-year-old group, p = 1.000; 10 to 19-year-old group, p = 1.000; 20 to 29-year-old group, p = 0.854; 30 to 39-year-old group, p = 0.191, 40 to 49-year-old group, p = 0.749; 50 to 59-year-old group, p = 0.627; ≥90-year-old group, p = 1.000).

CONCLUSIONS

The presence of tonsilloliths was related to the extent of periodontitis because the structures were responding dynamically.

Radiological evaluation of maxillofacial soft tissue calcifications with cone beam computed tomography and panoramic radiography

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to present the radiologic characteristics of maxillofacial soft tissue calcifications with a comparison of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and panoramic radiography (PR) findings.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study was based on CBCT images obtained for different purposes between October 2017 and September 2018. The absence, location and radiological characteristics of some calcifications were evaluated in 252 patients. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS version 21.0; P < .05 was considered to indicate statistical significance.

RESULTS

Palatine tonsilloliths were the most common calcifications in our study. Calcifications were most frequent in the sixth decade of life. Women had larger calcifications than men. There was a relationship between the sizes measured by CBCT and PR for tonsilloliths. In PR, Region 2 had significantly more calcifications compared with the other regions. The C2 vertebral level was the most common region for tonsilloliths based on CBCT.

CONCLUSIONS

Tonsilloliths have a high prevalence. The regular peripheral type had a higher risk of being a tonsillolith in PR. The peripheral/internal characteristics and the dimensions of calcifications between the two imaging modalities were in harmony. The location of calcification in PR and CBCT was important to distinguish the type of calcification.

Changes in tonsillolith characteristics detected in a follow-up CT study

Background

Tonsilloliths are related clinically to halitosis and tonsillar abscess. However, the dynamics of tonsilloliths over time are unknown. The aim of the study was to evaluate change in the characteristics of tonsilloliths in a time-dependent fashion by follow-up computed tomography (CT).

Methods

Tonsilloliths were analyzed in 326 CT scan pair sets of initial and at least two follow-up CT examinations of patients with whole palatine tonsils and various diseases of the oral and maxillofacial regions.

Results

Over the follow-up period, 12.1% of tonsilloliths disappeared. Approximately 26.1% of tonsilloliths changed in size during follow-up, mostly increasing in size. In tonsilloliths that showed enlargement, the mean (± standard deviation) growth rate was 0.61 ± 0.41 mm per year. Approximately 37.3% of tonsilloliths changed position during the follow-up period; of these, movement was toward the respiratory tract in 92% at a mean rate of − 1.38 ± 1.59 mm per year. The calcification levels of almost all tonsilloliths showed dynamic change: HU number increased in 84.3% and decreased in 12.7% of tonsilloliths over the follow-up period. The mean rate of HU increase was 63.8 ± 96.3 HU/year, and the mean rate of HU decrease was − 38.4 ± 66.8 HU/year.

Conclusions

The calcification levels of all tonsilloliths showed dynamic fluctuation, and a tendency for excretion of tonsilloliths from the body. Their dynamics over time suggest that tonsilloliths may be in a permanently active phase which functions to remove foreign matter.

Prevalence and imaging characteristics of nasopharyngeal and eustachian tube tonsilloliths in 2244 patients determined using computed tomography

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.