Imaging Science in Dentistry

Korean Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology (대한영상치의학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Prevalence of pineal gland calcification as an incidental finding in patients referred for implant dental therapy

  • Mutalik, Sunil (Section of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Connecticut Health Center) ;
  • Tadinada, Aditya (Section of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Connecticut Health Center)
  • Received : 2017.04.27
  • Accepted : 2017.07.31
  • Published : 2017.09.30
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

Purpose: Pineal gland calcification has been proposed to play a role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer disease. This study evaluated the prevalence and extent of pineal gland calcification in cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans of patients referred for dental implant therapy who could possibly be a vulnerable group for this condition. Materials and Methods: A retrospective evaluation of 500 CBCT scans was conducted. Scans that showed the area where the pineal gland was located were included. The scans were initially screened by a single observer to record the prevalence and extent of calcification. Six weeks following the completion of the study, another investigator randomly reviewed and selected 50 scans to investigate inter-observer variation, which was evaluated using reliability analysis statistics. The prevalence and measurements of the calcifications were reported using descriptive statistics. The chi-square test was used to compare the prevalence between males and females. Results: The prevalence of pineal gland calcification was 58.8%. There was no statistically significant correlation between age and the extent of the calcification. The prevalence of calcification was 58.6% in females and 59.0% in males. The average anteroposterior measurement was $3.73{\pm}1.63mm$, while the average mediolateral measurement was $3.47{\pm}1.31mm$. The average total calcified area was $9.79{\pm}7.59mm^2$. Conclusion: The prevalence of pineal gland calcification was high in patients undergoing implant therapy. While not all pineal gland calcifications lead to neurodegenerative disorders, they should be strongly considered in the presence of any symptoms as a reason to initiate further investigations.

Keywords

References

  1. Sedghizadeh PP, Nguyen M, Enciso R. Intracranial physiological calcifications evaluated with cone beam CT. Dentomaxillofac Radiol 2012; 41: 675-8. https://doi.org/10.1259/dmfr/33077422
  2. Barghan S, Tahmasbi Arashlow M, Nair MK. Incidental findings on cone beam computed tomography studies outside of the maxillofacial skeleton. Int J Dent 2016; 2016: 9196503.
  3. Damaskos S, Tsiklakis K, Syriopoulos K, van der Stelt P. Extra-and intra-cranial arterial calcifications in adults depicted as incidental findings on cone beam CT images. Acta Odontol Scand 2015; 73: 202-9. https://doi.org/10.3109/00016357.2014.979867
  4. Kitkhuandee A, Sawanyawisuth K, Johns NP, Kanpittaya J, Johns J. Pineal calcification is associated with symptomatic cerebral infarction. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis 2014; 23: 249-53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2013.01.009
  5. Mahlberg R, Walther S, Kalus P, Bohner G, Haedel S, Reischies FM, et al. Pineal calcification in Alzheimer's disease: an in vivo study using computed tomography. Neurobiol Aging 2008; 29: 203-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2006.10.003
  6. Mohammed KA, Adjei Boakye E, Ismail HA, Geneus CJ, Tobo BB, Buchanan PM, et al. Pineal gland calcification in Kurdistan: a cross-sectional study of 480 roentgenograms. PLoS One 2016; 11: e0159239. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0159239
  7. Bersani G, Garavini A, Taddei I, Tanfani G, Nordio M, Pancheri P. Computed tomography study of pineal calcification in schizophrenia. Eur Psychiatry 1999; 14: 163-6. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0924-9338(99)80735-4
  8. Edwards R, Altalibi M, Flores-Mir C. The frequency and nature of incidental findings in cone-beam computed tomographic scans of the head and neck region: a systematic review. J Am Dent Assoc 2013; 144: 161-70. https://doi.org/10.14219/jada.archive.2013.0095
  9. Whitehead MT, Oh C, Raju A, Choudhri AF. Physiologic pineal region, choroid plexus, and dural calcifications in the first decade of life. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2015; 36: 575-80. https://doi.org/10.3174/ajnr.A4153
  10. Turgut AT, Karakas HM, Ozsunar Y, Altin L, Ceken K, Alicioglu B, et al. Age-related changes in the incidence of pineal gland calcification in Turkey: a prospective multicenter CT study. Pathophysiology 2008; 15: 41-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pathophys.2008.02.001
  11. Doyle AJ, Anderson GD. Physiologic calcification of the pineal gland in children on computed tomography: prevalence, observer reliability and association with choroid plexus calcification. Acad Radiol 2006; 13: 822-6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acra.2006.04.004
  12. Kunz D, Schmitz S, Mahlberg R, Mohr A, Stoter C, Wolf KJ, et al. A new concept for melatonin deficit: on pineal calcification and melatonin excretion. Neuropsychopharmacology 1999; 21: 765-72. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0893-133X(99)00069-X
  13. Ozlece HK, Akyuz O, Ilik F, Huseyinoglu N, Aydin S, Can S, et al. Is there a correlation between the pineal gland calcification and migraine? Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2015; 19: 3861-4.
  14. Sandyk R. The pineal gland and the mode of onset of schizophrenia. Int J Neurosci 1992; 67: 9-17. https://doi.org/10.3109/00207459208994772
  15. Wu YH, Swaab DF. The human pineal gland and melatonin in aging and Alzheimer's disease. J Pineal Res 2005; 38: 145-52. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-079X.2004.00196.x
  16. Sigurdardottir LG, Markt SC, Sigurdsson S, Aspelund T, Fall K, Schernhammer E, et al. Pineal gland volume assessed by MRI and its correlation with 6-sulfatoxymelatonin levels among older men. J Biol Rhythms 2016; 31: 461-9. https://doi.org/10.1177/0748730416656948
  17. Slominski RM, Reiter RJ, Schlabritz-Loutsevitch N, Ostrom RS, Slominski AT. Melatonin membrane receptors in peripheral tissues: distribution and functions. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2012; 351: 152-66. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mce.2012.01.004
  18. Sandyk R, Anastasiadis PG, Anninos PA, Tsagas N. Is the pineal gland involved in the pathogenesis of endometrial carcinoma. Int J Neurosci 1992; 62: 89-96.