Document Type : Original Article

Authors

• Shahram Hamedani ¹
• Mohammad Hossein Dabbaghmanesh ²
• Zahra Zare ³
• Mahvash Hasani ⁴
• Mahshid Torabi Ardakani ⁵
• Mahsa Hasani ⁶
• Shoaleh Shahidi ⁷

¹ DDS, MSc in Dentomaxillofacial Radiology, Dental Research Development Center, School of Dentistry, Shiraz university of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.

² Shiraz Endocrine and Metabolism Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz , Iran.

³ Dept. of Maxillofacial Radiology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.

⁴ Dept. of Maxillofacial Radiology, School of Dentistry, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.

⁵ Private dentist, Shiraz, Iran.

⁶ Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Science, Shiraz, Iran.

⁷ Biomaterial Research Center, Dept. of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, School of Dentistry, Shiraz University of Medical Scienc-es, Shiraz, Iran.

Abstract

Statement of the Problem: Cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis are major health dilemmas. Osteoporotic patients frequently display vascular calcification that consequently increases the cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the relation of osteoporosis, vascular calcification (atheroma, intima-media thickness (IMT)) and elongated styloid process (ESP) in a sample of osteoporotic and normal female individuals.Materials and Method: This study recruited 78 women who were assessed for bone mass density (BMD). Sample included individuals with normal BMD (n=13, 17 %), osteopenia (n=36, 46 %), and osteoporosis (n=29, 37%). The presence of atheroma and IMT was examined using color Doppler ultrasonography (CD-US). In addition, digital panoramic radiographs (PRs) were obtained to assess ESP.Results: In this study, 55 subjects (70%) with low BMD exhibited at least one side ESP. Femoral BMD decreased significantly in subjects with ESP (p= 0.03). Bilateral ESP was correlated with the presence of atheroma (p= 0.029). The CIMT was greater in patients with ESP, although the relation was not significant.Conclusion: The obtained data suggest referring the aged individuals with ESP for BMD assessment and individuals with low bone mass and ESP for more cardiovascular risk assessment.