Case No 1

76 yr female c/o headache to r/o SOL.

Case courtesy: Dr.N.T. Varghese.

 

Findings:

-Bilateral globus pallidi calcification is seen.

-Moderate generalized cerebral atrophy is noted.

DDs:

-Basal ganglia hemorrhage.

-Idiopathic familial symmetrical basal ganglia calcification.

Discussion:

-Basal ganglia calcification is common in old age and many times detected  incidentally

-Generally, brain calcification are more commonly found in patients aged 30 to  60 years,  with the prevalence increasing with age.

-Some authors have found strong associations between psychotic symptoms    and basal ganglia calcification in old age. 

Other causes of basal ganglia calcification:

-Idiopathic hypoparathyroidism ,

-Secondary hypoparathyroidism,

-Pseudohypoparathyroidism ,

-Pseudo-pseudohypoparathyroidism ,

-Hyperparathyroidism,

-Hypothyroidism,

-Birth anoxia

-Carbon monoxide intoxication

-Lead intoxication

-Fahr's syndrome (ferrocalcinosis)

-Familial idiopathic symmetrical basal ganglia calcification.

References:

-Basak R. OMJ. 24, 220-222 (2009); doi:10.5001/omj.2009.43.

-Familial idiopathic basal ganglia calcification: rediscovering an old challenge in organic psychiatric disorders. Rev. Bras. Psiquiatr. vol.35 no.3 São  Paulo July/Sept. 2013

-M G Harrington, P Macpherson, W B McIntosh, B F, y. The significance of incidental finding of  basal ganglia calcification on computed tomography.Journal  of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatryl981 ;44:1168-1170