COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY FINDINGS OF INTRACRANIAL CALCIFICATIONS

Abstract

Objective
 In this study, the anatomical localization and
 distribution of intracranial calcifications detected on
 brain computed tomography (CT) were determined
 and their relationship with age and gender was
 investigated.
 Material and Method
 Images of 887 patients who underwent brain CT
 examinations for various reasons between March
 2010 and May 2013 were analyzed. Images of 124
 patients were excluded from the study because of
 contrast-enhanced examination, bleeding, trauma,
 hydrocephalus, and image distortion. Seven hundred
 sixty three patients whose non-contrasted brain CT
 images were analyzed were divided into age groups
 according to decades. The pineal gland, choroid
 plexus, habenula, basal ganglia, tentorium cerebelli,
 falx cerebri, dural and arachnoid granulation,
 petroclinoid ligament, arterial wall, orbital, dystrophic
 and tumoral calcifications were evaluated. The
 distribution of intracranial calcifications according to
 age groups and gender were examined.
 Results
 Of the patients included in the study, 382 (50.1%)
 were female and 381 (49.9%) were male. Intracranial
 calcification was detected in 672 (88.1%) of the patients.
 The choroid plexus (78.2%) calcifications were most
 common, followed by habenula (62.4%), pineal gland
 (55.3%), arterial wall (31.2%), petroclinoid ligament
 (28.7%), and falx cerebri (20.7%). Calcifications of
 dural and arachnoid granulation (7.5%), basal ganglia
 (6.3%), tentorium cerebelli (2.9%), tumoral (1.2%)
 and orbital (0.5%) were detected less frequently,
 while dystrophic calcifications (0.4%) were the least
 common. A statistically significant difference was
 found in the distribution of calcifications according
 to age groups, in calcifications located in the pineal
 gland, choroid plexus, habenula, basal ganglia,
 tentorium cerebelli, falx cerebri, dural and arachnoid
 granulation, petroclinoid ligament and arterial wall. A
 statistically significant difference was found in choroid
 plexus, habenula, dural and arachnoid granulation
 and petroclinoid ligament calcifications in distribution
 according to gender.
 Conclusion
 Intracranial calcifications are most frequently detected
 in the choroid plexus, habenula and pineal gland,
 while dystrophic calcifications are seen the least.
 The incidence of intracranial calcifications generally
 increases from the age of 10. Tentorium cerebelli and
 dural and arachnoid granulation calcifications are
 more common in female.