Computed tomographic pattern of physiological intracranial calcifications in a city in central Africa

Abstract

Objective: Intracranial calcifications underlie certain brain diseases which may be de novo or systemic. But calcifications un-connected to pathologies are classified physiological.

Aim: To evaluate physiological intracranial calcifications in Douala with establishment of earliest age range of detection.

Materials and methods: Prospective study of brain computed tomograms was done from April to October 2009 using Schumadzu CT Scan machine. Axial, reconstructed and bone window images as well Hounsfield unit measurements were used for final evaluations. RESULTS were analysed with SSPS 3.

Results: 132 patients with 75 males and 57 females were studied and 163 separate calcifications were identified due to co-existent calcifications. The highest calcification was in choroid plexi, constituting 56.82% of the studied population. This was followed by pineal gland. Both were commonly co-existent with advancing age. These calcifications were first seen at 10-19 years. No type of physiological intracranial calcification was seen below age 10. The least calcification of 0.76% of population was in dentate nucleus.

Conclusion: No intra-cranial physiological calcifications started earlier than 9 years in Douala, a city in Cameroon, Central Africa.

Figure 1

Calcification distributions across age ranges Series 1=Males, Series 2=Females, Series 3=Total

Figure 2

Choroid plexus graphical representations of %calcification pattern across age ranges

Figure 3

Axial brain ct showing bilateral symmetrical basal ganglial calcification

Figure 4

Axial brain ct showing anterior falx calification

Figure 5

Axial brain ct showing pineal gland calcification

Figure 6

Axial brain ct showing choroid plexus and left basal ganglial calcifications