US EPA

510948 

Journal Article 

Differential diagnosis of intracranial calcifications 

Pinol-Ripoll, G; Mauri-Llerda, JA; Martinez-Miro, ID; Perez-Lazaro, C; Beltran-Marin, I; Del Val, LJL; Pascual-Millan, LF; Mostacero, E 

2005 

1 

Revista de Neurologia
ISSN: 0210-0010
EISSN: 1576-6578 

41 

3 

151-155 

Spanish 

Introduction. Intracranial calcifications are a frequent chance finding in many neuroimaging tests. We report two clinical cases with intracranial calcifications as a common feature, but which had very different aetiologies and presenting symptoms. Case reports. The first case involved a 51-year-old male with a single tonic-clonic convulsive seizure associated to hypocalcemia secondary to hypoparathyroidism who presented extensive brain calcifications affecting the dentate nuclei, pons, periependymal and basal ganglia, and whose convulsive attacks remitted once normal Ca2+ values were restored. The second case was a 25-year-old female patient whose convulsive seizures were yet another symptom of Fahr's syndrome, which was associated to spastic paralysis, athetosis, mental retardation and occasionally hypoplasia of the optic nerve; the calcifications were located in the grey nuclei of the cerebrum and cerebellum. Conclusions. A correct history and physical and neurological examination must be carried out, and a detailed study of Ca2+/P+ and hormonal metabolism is also required. A CAT scan is the preferred neuroimaging technique to achieve a proper differential diagnosis and to decide on the therapeutic approach that is best suited to the pathophysiological mechanisms that lead to the formation of these calcium deposits. 

brain calcifications; cognitive impairment; convulsive seizures; Fahr's; syndrome; hypoparathyroidism; parkinsonism; extensive brain calcification; basal ganglia calcifications; idiopathic; hypoparathyroidism; fahrs-disease; manifestations; tomography; ct