Imaging Sci Dent.  2017 Sep;47(3):175-180. 10.5624/isd.2017.47.3.175.

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

• Mutalik S
• Tadinada A

• KMID: 2390082
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5624/isd.2017.47.3.175

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±1.63 mm, while the average mediolateral measurement was 3.47±1.31 mm. The average total calcified area was 9.79±7.59 mm².
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.

Keyword

Pineal Gland; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; Alzheimer Disease; Dental Implants

MeSH Terms

Alzheimer Disease
Cone-Beam Computed Tomography
Dental Implants
Female
Humans
Incidental Findings*
Male
Neurodegenerative Diseases
Observer Variation
Pineal Gland*
Prevalence*
Research Personnel
Retrospective Studies
Dental Implants

Figure

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  Fig. 1 A. Axial cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) section. Arrows depict the pineal gland calcification (yellow), the crista galli (red), and the orbital cavity (white). B. Coronal (left) and sagittal (right) CBCT sections depict pineal gland calcification (white arrow in the coronal section; yellow arrow in the sagittal section).

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  Fig. 2 Pictures depict linear (left) and areal (right) measurements of the pineal gland.

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  Fig. 3 Average linear and areal measurements in males and females.

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  Fig. 4 Distribution of pineal gland measurements in different age groups.

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