Computed tomography of calcification of the basal ganglia

ABSTRACT

Calcification so of the basal ganglia are rarely found at routine autopsies and in skull radiographs. CT is superior to the plain skull radiographs in detecting intracranial attenuation differences and may be stated to bethe method of choice in the diagnosis of intracranial calcifications. Of 5985 brain CT scans performed in KyungHee Univeristy Hospital during past 3 years, 36 cases were found to have high attenuation lesions suggesting within basal ganglia. 1. The incidence of basal ganglia calcification on CT scan was about 0.6%. 2. Of these 36 cases, 34 cases were bilateral and the remainder was unilateral. 3. The plain skull films of 23 cases showed visible calcification of basal ganglia in 3 cases (13%). 4. No specific metabolic disease was noted in the cases.