Case report
Calcification of the basal ganglia apparently presenting as a schizophreniform psychosis
Peter Hall
Abstract
A patient with gross basal ganglia calcification is described, whose condition was associated with severe psychotic symptoms and in whom the clinical picture was not typical of hypoparathyroidism, pseudohypoparathyroidism or pseudo-pseudohypoparathyroidism.
Calcification of the basal ganglia may occur in a variety of infections, toxic and metabolic disorders, particularly hypoparathyroidism, pseudohypoparathyroidism, toxoplasmosis and some anoxic conditions (Moskowitz, Winickoff & Heinz, 1971).
A patient with gross basal ganglia calcification is described, whose condition was associated with severe psychotic symptoms and in whom the clinical picture was not typical of hypoparathyroidism, pseudohypoparathyroidism or pseudo-pseudohypoparathyroidism.
Calcification of the basal ganglia may occur in a variety of infections, toxic and metabolic disorders, particularly hypoparathyroidism, pseudohypoparathyroidism, toxoplasmosis and some anoxic conditions (Moskowitz, Winickoff & Heinz, 1971).
Though there is doubt as to the precise diagnosis in the present case, familial calcification appears to be the most probable.
Basal ganglia calcification, idiopathic 1: Abnormal calcium deposits in the part of the brain called the basal ganglia. Type 1 results in psychiatric, cognitive or neurological problems associated with the calcification
