BASAL GANGLIA CALCIFICATION IN POSTOPERATIVE HYPOPARATHYROIDISM

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Abstract
The presence of bilateral basal ganglia calcification was sought in 9 patients with post-operative and 2 patients with primary hypoparathyroidism, using computerized axial tomography (CAT) and plain skull radiographs. Calcification was detected with CAT in 7 patients; 5 with post-operative and both with primary hypoparathyroidism, but in only 1 was it demonstrable on plain X-ray films. The presence of calcification appeared to be related to the duration of the disease and possibly the degree of control of serum Ca. Six of the 7 patients with cerebral calcification also had cataracts. The incidence of basal ganglia calcification in hypoparathyroidism is probably much greater than previously recognized, especially in post-operative hypoparathyroidism.