Anat Cell Biol.  2022 Mar;55(1):63-71. 10.5115/acb.21.137.

Frequency, shape, and estimated volume of intracranial physiologic calcification in different age groups investigated by brain computed tomography scan: a retrospective study

• Ghorbanlou M
• Moradi F
• Mehdizadeh M

• KMID: 2527670
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5115/acb.21.137

Abstract

Intracranial calcification is referred to calcification of parenchyma and vascular structures in brain which can be physiologic or pathologic. This study was conducted with the purpose of investigating the frequency, location, pattern, dimensions and estimated volume of intracranial physiologic calcification (IPC) by computer tomography in different age groups. In this cross-sectional retrospective study, brain computed tomography scans of 216 patients were analyzed in 9 age groups each containing 24 patients from 2 to 89 years old. Data were analyzed by SPSS software using one way analysis of variance (ANOVA, post hoc Tukey), chi square, and linear regression tests (P≤0.05 was considered significant). Rate of calcification in different areas were as follows: pineal gland (75.0%), habenula (36.4%), pineohabenula (15.0%), right lateral ventricle choroid plexus (RCP) (67.7%), left lateral ventricle choroid plexus (LCP) (62.7%), falx cerebri (26.8%), petroclinoid ligament (13.2%), tentorium cerebelli (6.8%), third ventricle choroid plexus (0.9%), fourth ventricle choroid plexus (2.7%), basal ganglia (0.9%). A significant correlation exists between the presence of calcification in pineal, habenula, RCP, and LCP (P≤0.001). Nodular shape of calcification was dominant (47.9%). Estimated volume of pineal calcification showed increased levels in group 8 (70–79 years old) compared to group 2 (10–19 years old) (P≤0.05). Since the accurate description of radiologic appearance of IPCs (location, shape, and size) accompanied with age and clinical manifestation is of great importance in diagnosis and distinguishing from pathologic calcification—for example in patients with melatonin dysregulation or schizophrenic patients—this study was required.

Keyword

Brain; Computed tomography; Calcification; Age

Figure

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  Fig. 1 (A) A sample of how to calculate the estimated volume of calcification. A given calcification which can be detected in 8 slices in a computed tomography scan. (B) How to calculate the number of slices of calcification. (C) How to calculate estimated calcification volume according to A×B×C/2 formula (for example A=5 mm, B=6 mm, C [thickness=1.25 mm, number of slices=5.5] 1.25×5.5=6.87 mm estimated volume: 103.05 mm3).

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  Fig. 2 (A) Percent of IPC in each area in each group. (B) Total location of IPC (percent). (C) Corresponding brain computed tomography images of various IPC patterns (A: nodular [dimensions ≥1 mm]; B: punctate [dimensions ≤1 mm]; C: diffuse punctate [multiple punctate calcifications]; D: linear; E: coarse conglomerated; F: curvilinear; G: circular peripheral; H: compound [pineohabenular calcification]). Arrow shows the calcification. (D) Percent of patterns of calcification in four common IPC areas. (E) Total pattern of calcification. IPC, intracranial physiologic calcification; P, pineal; H, habenula; PH, pineohabenula; RCP, right choroid plexus; LCP, left choroid plexus; FC, falx cerebri; PCL, petroclinoid ligament; TC, tentorium cerebelli; V, ventricle; BG, basal ganglia.

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  Fig. 3 (A) Estimated volume of pineal gland calcification. (B) Estimated volume of habenula calcification. (C) Estimated volume of RCP (blue boxes) and LCP calcification (black boxes). *P≤0.05 vs. group 2; #P≤0.05 vs. group 2. Data are reported as boxes with error bars indicating mean±SEM, and various circles in each column indicate individual data points. RCP, right choroid plexus; LCP, left choroid plexus.

Reference

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