Basal ganglia calcification on computed tomography in childhood
Abe, K.; Inoue, N.; Hirano, H.; Irie, K.; Uchida, T.; Ohfu, M.; Ogata, H.; Mitsudome, A.; Okudera, T.
No to Hattatsu 19(1): 9-15
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0029-0831 PMID: 3801224 Document Number: 298953
There have been many reports on basal ganglia calcification (BGC) on computed tomography (CT) in adults. If only a little has been known about BGC in childhood by CT examination. We investigated the cases with BGC by screening all the CT films obtained for last 6 years (1979 April-1985 March) in the pediatric unit of our hospital. CT scanning was performed with Somatom SD and DR-II appratus and sections were obtained at an angle of 15.degree. to the orbitometal line. BGC was found in 13 out of total 1,637 cases. Confirmed diagnosis of these cases was as follows; pseudohypoparathyroidism (4), idiopathic hypoparathyroidism (1), mitochondrial encephalomyopathy (1), Cockayne's syndrome (1), brain tumor cases (craniophariyngioma) (1) and ectopic pinealoma (1), congenital nephrotic syndrome (1), and unknown cases (3). The average of ages was 7 years old. The male to female ratio was 1 to 2.5. The locations of calcification were classified into 3 types. Globus pallidus only 4 cases, globulus pallidus and other areas 7 cases, and other than globus pallidus 2 cases. In Cockayne's syndrome and craniopharyngioma, BGC was demonstrated also by plain roentogenogram. There were 3 cases whose BGC was recognized only at the 2nd CT examination. No extrapyramidal sign was elicited except for the hand tremor found in the patient with Cockayne's syndrome. Convulsion was present in 8 patients. Abnormality in EEG was found in 9 out of the 11 patients subjected to the EEG examination.