Incidental Calcifications of Carotid and Vertebral Arteries: Frequency and Associations in Pediatric Population
<b>Background:</b> Calcifications in the carotid and vertebral arteries may be present on cranial and temporal bone CT imaging of pediatric patients. Few studies have investigated the frequency, location, and patterns of carotid artery calcifications in this age group. However, these stu...
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2025-05-01
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| author | Turkhun Cetin Gokce Cinar Berna Ucan Fulya Memis Baris Irgul Sonay Aydin |
| author_facet | Turkhun Cetin Gokce Cinar Berna Ucan Fulya Memis Baris Irgul Sonay Aydin |
| author_sort | Turkhun Cetin |
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| description | <b>Background:</b> Calcifications in the carotid and vertebral arteries may be present on cranial and temporal bone CT imaging of pediatric patients. Few studies have investigated the frequency, location, and patterns of carotid artery calcifications in this age group. However, these studies are outdated and do not include data on the vertebral artery. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency, location, and pattern of incidental carotid and vertebral artery calcifications on cranial CT and temporal bone CT images in children under 15 years of age. We also aimed to investigate possible associations between these calcifications and various diseases. <b>Methods:</b> A total of 300 CT images of the cranial and temporal bone of 300 pediatric patients were retrospectively evaluated for the presence of calcification in the carotid and vertebral arteries. The evaluation included determining the presence of calcification in the artery, the pattern of calcification, the degree of calcification, and its anatomical location. <b>Results:</b> In the current study, 300 CT images were analyzed, and calcifications were found in the vertebral artery in 17 patients (5.6%) and the carotid artery in 82 patients (27.3%). The supraclinoid segment and the carotid siphon regions are the most common locations of carotid artery calcifications, with 62 patients (20.7%). The V4 segment is also the most common location for vertebral artery calcifications, with 15 patients (5%). Focal punctate calcification is the most common pattern (65 patients, 21.7%). Incidental carotid and vertebral artery calcifications did not correlate with other diseases. <b>Conclusions:</b> Carotid and vertebral artery calcifications are common incidental findings in pediatric patients. In our study, no association was found between other diseases and incidental carotid and vertebral artery calcifications. |
| format | Article |
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| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
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| series | Diagnostics |
| spelling | doaj-art-72df007f62cd430781ad4559763fddab2025-08-20T02:33:55ZengMDPI AGDiagnostics2075-44182025-05-011510126310.3390/diagnostics15101263Incidental Calcifications of Carotid and Vertebral Arteries: Frequency and Associations in Pediatric PopulationTurkhun Cetin0Gokce Cinar1Berna Ucan2Fulya Memis3Baris Irgul4Sonay Aydin5Department of Radiology, Erzincan Binali Yidirim University, Erzincan 24100, TurkeyDepartment of Radiology, Ankara Etlik City Hospital, Ankara 06170, TurkeyDepartment of Radiology, Ankara Etlik City Hospital, Ankara 06170, TurkeyDepartment of Internal Medicine, Erzincan Binali Yidirim University, Erzincan 24100, TurkeyDepartment of Radiology, Erzincan Binali Yidirim University, Erzincan 24100, TurkeyDepartment of Radiology, Erzincan Binali Yidirim University, Erzincan 24100, Turkey<b>Background:</b> Calcifications in the carotid and vertebral arteries may be present on cranial and temporal bone CT imaging of pediatric patients. Few studies have investigated the frequency, location, and patterns of carotid artery calcifications in this age group. However, these studies are outdated and do not include data on the vertebral artery. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency, location, and pattern of incidental carotid and vertebral artery calcifications on cranial CT and temporal bone CT images in children under 15 years of age. We also aimed to investigate possible associations between these calcifications and various diseases. <b>Methods:</b> A total of 300 CT images of the cranial and temporal bone of 300 pediatric patients were retrospectively evaluated for the presence of calcification in the carotid and vertebral arteries. The evaluation included determining the presence of calcification in the artery, the pattern of calcification, the degree of calcification, and its anatomical location. <b>Results:</b> In the current study, 300 CT images were analyzed, and calcifications were found in the vertebral artery in 17 patients (5.6%) and the carotid artery in 82 patients (27.3%). The supraclinoid segment and the carotid siphon regions are the most common locations of carotid artery calcifications, with 62 patients (20.7%). The V4 segment is also the most common location for vertebral artery calcifications, with 15 patients (5%). Focal punctate calcification is the most common pattern (65 patients, 21.7%). Incidental carotid and vertebral artery calcifications did not correlate with other diseases. <b>Conclusions:</b> Carotid and vertebral artery calcifications are common incidental findings in pediatric patients. In our study, no association was found between other diseases and incidental carotid and vertebral artery calcifications.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/15/10/1263carotid artery calcificationsvertebral artery calcificationsincidental cranial calcifications |
| spellingShingle | Turkhun Cetin Gokce Cinar Berna Ucan Fulya Memis Baris Irgul Sonay Aydin Incidental Calcifications of Carotid and Vertebral Arteries: Frequency and Associations in Pediatric Population Diagnostics carotid artery calcifications vertebral artery calcifications incidental cranial calcifications |
| title | Incidental Calcifications of Carotid and Vertebral Arteries: Frequency and Associations in Pediatric Population |
| title_full | Incidental Calcifications of Carotid and Vertebral Arteries: Frequency and Associations in Pediatric Population |
| title_fullStr | Incidental Calcifications of Carotid and Vertebral Arteries: Frequency and Associations in Pediatric Population |
| title_full_unstemmed | Incidental Calcifications of Carotid and Vertebral Arteries: Frequency and Associations in Pediatric Population |
| title_short | Incidental Calcifications of Carotid and Vertebral Arteries: Frequency and Associations in Pediatric Population |
| title_sort | incidental calcifications of carotid and vertebral arteries frequency and associations in pediatric population |
| topic | carotid artery calcifications vertebral artery calcifications incidental cranial calcifications |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/15/10/1263 |
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