Distinct basal ganglia hyperechogenicity in idiopathic basal ganglia calcification

Norbert Brüggemann, Susanne A. Schneider, Thurid Sander, Christine Klein, Johann Hagenah*

*Corresponding author for this work
10 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We report a 67-year-old patient with idiopathic basal ganglia calcification (IBGC). He presented with progressive cognitive impairment, frontal lobe dysfunction, mild leg spasticity, and levodopa (L-dopa)-responsive parkinsonism. Transcranial sonography (TCS) revealed marked hyperechogenicity of the basal ganglia and periventricular spaces bilaterally. The detected signal alterations showed a fairly symmetric distribution and corresponded to the hyperintense calcifications depicted on the computer tomography brain scan. The combination of symmetric hyperechogenic areas adjacent to the lateral ventricles and of the basal ganglia may serve as an imaging marker characteristic of IBGC. Hyperechogenicity due to extended basal ganglia calcification as presented here is distinct from the pattern of hyperechogenicity caused by heavy metal accumulation, which is described to be less striking. In addition to atypical parkinsonian syndromes such as progressive supranuclear palsy and multiple system atrophy, IBGC is thus another differential diagnosis of parkinsonism with basal ganglia hyperechogenicity.

Original languageEnglish
JournalMovement Disorders
Volume25
Issue number15
Pages (from-to)2661-2664
Number of pages4
ISSN0885-3185
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 01.11.2010

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