Methods: In this descriptive study 966 panoramic radiographs of the patients referred to the department of radiology, faculty of dentistry, Shaheed Beheshti University in the years of 1386 and 1387 have been assessed. It should be mentioned the X-ray machine, developing situation and type of the films were the same for all of the radiographs. Statistical analysis (logistic regression. chi-square and Mann Whitney U) was completed using SPSS version and consequently a probability of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: We found 47 tonsilloliths (18 women, 29 men) on radiographs. Most of the cases belonged to patients referred in spring (20 patients). Majority of cases (24 individuals) were 41-60 years old, thus there were 11 patients in 21-40 and 61-80 year old patients group, one case less than 20 and no case more than 80. From all of these, 23 cases were bilateral, 13 cases in left side, II cases in right side. There was no significant difference between genders.
Conclusions: Giving consideration to prevalence of tonsillolith(4.9%),radiologists should be aware that tonsillary calculi occur frequently and should be included among the diagnostic possibilities specially in 41-60 year old patient when conventional survey panoramic radiographs show radiopacity in the site of superimposition of uvula on ramous.