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.
ABSTRACT
Vascular calcification occurs with aging, and several risk factors including diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and disorders of calcium metabolism have been identified. M6nckeberg medial sclerosis (MMS) is the most common variant of medial calcification. M6nckeberg sclerosis can lead to significant adverse cardiovascular outcomes such as arterial stiffness, increased pulse and left ventricular hypertrophy. Here we report two cases of MMS involving facial vasculature, diagnosed incidentally on radiographs during their routine dental evaluation. They appear as convoluted "railroad tracks" patterns of the facial artery calcification. We believe that a better understanding and identification of these calcifications can lead to appropriate patient follow-up with medical providers and interventions to reduce morbidity and mortality by potentially predicting possible cardiovascular events.
