Calcification of the Carotid Arteries, a Clinical Sign of Severe Generalized Atherosclerosis

Abstract

The incidence of radiologically visible carotid calcification sharply increased after the age of 60 and showed a significant sex difference. Postero-anterior films of the cervical spine, routine chest films and abdominal lateral films were reviewed on 983 consecutive Japanese patients over the age of 40. The incidence of carotid calcification was none of 90 males and none of 46 females in the age group of 40 to 49, 2 (1.2%) of 168 males and 3 (2.3%) of 128 females in the age group of 50 to 59, 45 (19.3%) of 233 males and 5 (3.8%) of 130 females (p<0.001) in the age group of 60 to 69, and 35 (27.3%) of 128 males and 10(16.7%) of 69 females in the age group of 70 to 79. Carotid calcification developed about 10 years later than aortic calcification. Most of the patients with carotid calcification had calcification of the aortic arch or the abdominal aorta. Clinical abnormalities such as hypertension, glucose intolerance and stroke were more frequently found in patients with carotid calcification than in those without it. These results indicate that the carotid calcification is one of the important signs of severe generalized atherosclerosis.