Dental X-Rays Can Reveal Stroke Risk in Women

A study has shown that the radiography performed in a dentist's office can reveal neurologically asymptomatic women with a high risk of developing stroke. Conducted by researchers at the U.S. Veterans Affairs Healthcare System in Los Angeles (CA, USA), the study was published in the August 2001 issue of The Journal of the American Dental Association.

The researchers evaluated the panoramic dental radiographs and medical records of 52 postmenopausal women without stroke symptoms for atheromas and risk factors associated with atherosclerosis. The radiographs of 31% (16) exhibited atheromas located in the neck. In every case, the findings were confirmed by the presence of atheromas on anteroposterior cervical spine radiographs. These patients had many risk factors, such as hypertension, obesity, smoking, hyperlipidemia, and type 2 diabetes. Such patients should be referred by their dentist to an appropriate doctor for further evaluation and treatment.

Postmenopausal women account for more than 60% of U.S. deaths attributed to stroke. Declining estrogen levels contribute to the formation of atheromas, the precipitating cause in a majority of these strokes. These often become calcified and have been detected on the radiographs of male veterans but no studies have ever been conducted on female veterans until the current study.




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