Abstract

JACOME, Alessandra Mara Soares Coelho  and  ABDO, Evandro Neves. Radiographic aspects of soft tissue calcification in maxillofacial region. Odontol. Clín.-Cient. (Online) [online]. 2010, vol.9, n.1, pp. 25-32. ISSN 1677-3888.

Ordinary radiographic examinations of soft tissues in the maxillofacial region usually show radiopacities. It is remarkable, however, the difficult of the dentist about these images identification. The most frequent calcifications descript on literature are the carotid atheromas, the phleboliths, the sialoliths, cervical node calcifications, the tonsiloliths, the antroliths and the rinoliths and stylohyoid complex calcifications. A systematic review on literature about head and neck soft tissues calcifications radiological characteristics was made with the objective of helping on the identification of such pathological conditions. Other imaginologics exams like computed tomography, ultrasound and the magnetic resonance are also important for diagnosis but not necessary. Most of the articles found are clinical reports. The conclusion is that the dentist must be aware to the presence of these radiopacities on odontological radiographics and also be based on clinical data for a correct diagnosis of these alterations.

Keywords : Soft Tissues Calcifications; Soft Tissues Radiopacities; Heterotopic Calcifications.