Multiple intracranial calcifications as a complication of external ventricular drain placement

Abstract

The authors present a case of multiple intracranial calcifications after the procedure of external ventricular drain placement in a 50-year-old man with pericallosal artery aneurysm. We believe that calcifications formed dust that had fallen into the track during the external ventricular drain procedure. The clinical features and radiological findings are presented with review of literature.

Keywords: External ventricular drainage (EVD); Intracranial calcification.

Fig. 1

Preoperative non-enhanced brain computed tomography shows a diffuse subarachnoid hemorrhage in the basal and sylvian cisterns without intraventricular hemorrhage and intracranial calcifications.

Fig. 2

Postoperative follow-up computed tomography demonstrates resolution of subarachnoid hemorrhage and part of external ventricular drainage tube (black arrow) in frontal horn of the lateral ventricle, but radiopaque structures are not present.

Fig. 3

Enhanced brain computed tomography at 12 months following surgery reveals the development of non-enhancing radiopaque lesions (black arrow) in the right frontal horn of the lateral ventricle, the 3rd and the 4th ventricles.

Fig. 4

The follow-up brain computed tomography obtained 18 months after surgery shows that the calcification mass did not change in size and shape (black arrow).