Discrimination between calcified triticeous cartilage and calcified carotid atheroma on panoramic radiography

The differential diagnosis of calcified atherosclerotic plaque in the extracranial carotid vasculature includes a number of anatomic and pathologic radiopacities. Most of these are readily distinguishable on the basis of location and morphologic features. The calcified triticeous cartilage, however, can be a confounding alternative that is frequently misdiagnosed as a calcified atheroma. This paper describes the radiographic differences between these 2 entities, enabling clinicians to improve their diagnostic acumen when evaluating cervical soft tissue calcifications.