Neuroradiologic and clinical abnormalities in dementia of diffuse neurofibrillary tangles with calcification (Kosaka-Shibayama disease).

We describe a characteristic dementia patient diagnosed as diffuse neurofibrillary tangles with calcification (DNTC). Neuropsychologically, dementia, including a decline in memory retention and intelligence, and anomic aphasia were recognized. Imaging revealed circumscribed temporal dominant atrophy and calcification of the basal ganglia and cerebellum. SPECT and FDG-PET revealed a remarkable reduction of blood flow and metabolism in the temporal lobes; however, there is no reduction in the basal ganglia and cerebellum, and FDOPA-PET also disclosed no abnormalities. This suggests that calcification and neuronal degeneration occur independently in DNTC.