Eirini Beneki1,2,3, Xenofon Papazarkadas1,2,3, Achillefs Karras1,2,3, Konstantinos Kalantzis1,2,3, Konstantinos Tsatiris1,2,3. 1. Drs. Beneki and Tsatiris are with the Department of Cardiology at Karditsa General Hospital in Karditsa, Greece. 2. Dr. Papazarkadas is with the Department of General Surgery at the Hospital of Valais (CHVR) in Sion, Switzerland. 3. Drs. Karras and Kalantzis are with the Department of Internal Medine at Karditsa General Hospital in Karditsa, Greece.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Fahr's syndrome, also known as basal ganglia calcification, is a rare neurodegenerative disorder characterized by radiological findings of symmetrical and bilateral idiopathic abnormal deposits of calcium in areas of the brain that control motor activity, including the basal ganglia and the cerebral cortex. There is neither a specific cure, nor a standard treatment for Fahr's syndrome and treatment is primarily symptomatic. Brain imaging has gained widespread use in order to support clinicians in diagnosing intracranial calcifications. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a case of an 83-year-old female patient who presented with symptoms of confusion, fever, nausea, and vomiting. Clinical diagnosis of Fahr's syndrome secondary to hypopathyroidism was based on the neuropsychiatric signs and symptoms, laboratory evidence of hypoparathyroidism, and radiological signs of calcifications in the basal ganglia. The patient improved following replacement therapy with calcium gluconate, followed by oral supplemental calcitriol. CONCLUSION: This case highlights the importance of considering organic causes when patients present with neuropsychiatric disturbances, especially following thyroidectomy.
BACKGROUND: Fahr's syndrome, also known as basal ganglia calcification, is a rare neurodegenerative disorder characterized by radiological findings of symmetrical and bilateral idiopathic abnormal deposits of calcium in areas of the brain that control motor activity, including the basal ganglia and the cerebral cortex. There is neither a specific cure, nor a standard treatment for Fahr's syndrome and treatment is primarily symptomatic. Brain imaging has gained widespread use in order to support clinicians in diagnosing intracranial calcifications. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a case of an 83-year-old female patient who presented with symptoms of confusion, fever, nausea, and vomiting. Clinical diagnosis of Fahr's syndrome secondary to hypopathyroidism was based on the neuropsychiatric signs and symptoms, laboratory evidence of hypoparathyroidism, and radiological signs of calcifications in the basal ganglia. The patient improved following replacement therapy with calcium gluconate, followed by oral supplemental calcitriol. CONCLUSION: This case highlights the importance of considering organic causes when patients present with neuropsychiatric disturbances, especially following thyroidectomy.