Soft Tissue Calcifications

Question 1

What is Dystrophic, Idiopathic, and Metastatic calcifications?

Answer 1

Dyst= Calcification in diseased tissue

Idio= Calcification in normal tissue

Meta= Other disease process leading to calcified products depositing into tissue.

Question 2

What is a phlebolith? Type of calcification? Always in presence of? Classic appearance? Treatment?

Answer 2

thrombus in vein.

• Idiopathic calcification
• Always in presence of hemangioma.
• Target lesions
• No treatment

Question 3

What type of calcification is Laryngeal cartilage calcification? Appearance? Treatment?

Answer 3

• Idiopathic
• Well defined, smooth edges, homogenous RO.
• No treatment

Question 4

What type of Calcification is Lymph node calcification? Location? Appearance? Treatment?

Answer 4

• Dystrophic
• Sumbmandibular, angle and posterior border of mandible.
• Large Lobulated, cloud looking
• None needed.

Question 5

What type are Tonsoliths? Location? Appearance? Treatment?

Answer 5

• Dystrophic
• Midportion of mandibular ramus
• Small RO
• Non needed unless symptomatic

Question 6

What type is Calcified atherosclerotic plaque? Locations? Appearance? Treatment?

Answer 6

• Dystrophic
• Forms at arterial bifurcations in region of hyoid bone.
• Multiple, irregular, sharply defined, vertical linear distribution.
• Heightened risk for stroke so need to be seen.

Question 7

What are antroliths? Rhinoliths? Type? Appearance? Treatment?

Answer 7

Antro=Maxillary sinus calcification

Rhino=Nose calcification

• Idiopathic
• various sizes and shapes
• Removal of mass

Question 8

Ossification of stylohyoid ligament appearance? Types? Treatment?

Answer 8

• Calcified extension from stylohyoid bone.
  1. Classic Eagles Syndrome
  2. Carotid artery syndrome
• None unless symptomatic (styloheoidectomy).

Question 9

What is Classic eagles syndrome characteristics?

Answer 9

• History of neck trauma
• Cranial nerve impingement
• Vague to intense pain on speaking, chewing, swallowing

Question 10

What are the characteristics of Carotid Artery syndrome?

Answer 10

• Carotid artery impingement
• No history of neck trauma
• Subortial pain, eye pain, headache, vertigo, syncope.

Question 11

What is a sialolith? Most common seen? Type? Appearance?

Answer 11

• Stones in salivary glands
• Most common in submandibular glands
• Idiopathic
• Smooth, may have multiple layers.

Question 12

Answer 12