Prevalence of Tonsillolith on Cone Beam Computed Tomography Images in Patients Attending Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences

Aims: The purpose of the present study was to determine the prevalence and characteristics of tonsilloliths on the CBCT radiographs in the archive of the department of oral and maxillofacial radiology in the Shahid Beheshti Dental School.

Study Design: The design of this study was descriptive cross-sectional.

Methodology: The CBCT imaging archive of Shahid Beheshti Dental School was investigated for the presence and characteristics of tonsilloliths. In the axial view, which is considered the best diagnostic view for detection of tonsillar calcifications, the medial region of the mandibular ramus adjacent to the lateral wall of oropharyngeal airway was probed. Presence of calcifications was confirmed by investigation in coronal and sagittal views.

Results: 290 CBCT images were evaluated for presence of tonsilloliths. Patients’ age ranged between 6-79 years (mean=40.96±16.6). 59% of the patients were female and 41% were male. Prevalence of tonsillolith was 18.6%. Tonsilloliths were more common in 30-50 year old patients. However, presence of tonsilloliths was not significantly associated to age (P=0.098) and gender (P=0.164). Unilateral, multiple and irregular tonsilloliths were more common.

Conclusion: Prevalence of tonsillar calcifications in CBCT images was approximately 19% in our sample. These calcifications were more common in 30-50 year old patients. Therefore, tonsillar calcifications should be included in the differential diagnosis in middle-aged patients.