IDENTIFICATION OF STROKE-PRONE PATIENTS BY PANORAMIC RADIOGRAPHY

Stroke (cerebrovascular accident, CVA) is the third leading cause of d eath and an important cause of hospital admission and long term disabi lity in Australia. Atherosclerotic lesions at the bifurcation of the c ommon carotid artery are the most common cause of stroke. On occasion these lesions are partially calcified and visible on a conventional pa noramic dental radiograph. The atheroma may appear either as a nodular radiopaque mass or as two radiopaque vertical lines within the soft t issues of the neck at the level of the lower margin of the third cervi cal vertebra (C-3). These opacities separate and distinct from the hyo id bone variably appear above or below it. Dentists should scrupulousl y review the panoramic radiographs of ail individuals over age 55 with medical histories of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hypercholestera emia and coronary artery disease, or whose behaviour includes smoking, ethanol abuse, or dietary indiscretion coupled with overweight and a sedentary lifestyle which are known to be associated with atherosclero sis and stroke.