Traumatic Brain Injury in the Setting of Fahr Syndrome

Abstract

Fahr syndrome, or bilateral striatopallidodentate calcinosis, is a very rare syndrome that can confound interpretation of traumatic brain injury (TBI) seen on computed tomography of the head (CTH). Understanding that this syndrome presents with diffuse calcified lesions will assist clinicians unfamiliar with Fahr syndrome when evaluating diffuse hyperdensities seen on CTH in the setting of trauma between traumatic acute blood versus calcification. We present a unique image that demonstrates how a TBI patient can present with traumatic acute hemorrhage and Fahr syndrome. We highlight two methods within the CTH images that can be used to assist in these diagnoses, which will better inform neurosurgeons and other clinicians when encountering this very unique and rare presentation for the first time.