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High frequency of calcification in basal ganglia on brain computed tomography images in J apanese older adults
Author(s) -
Yamada Megumi,
Asano Takahiko,
Okamoto Kouichirou,
Hayashi Yuichi,
Kanematsu Masayuki,
Hoshi Hiroaki,
Akaiwa Yasuhisa,
Shimohata Takayoshi,
Nishizawa Masatoyo,
Inuzuka Takashi,
Hozumi Isao
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
geriatrics and gerontology international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.823
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1447-0594
pISSN - 1444-1586
DOI - 10.1111/ggi.12004
Subject(s) - calcification , basal ganglia , medicine , basal (medicine) , computed tomography , cerebellum , anatomy , nuclear medicine , radiology , central nervous system , insulin
Aim To investigate the frequency of calcification in the basal ganglia and the dentate nuclei in the cerebellum, and compare the difference in age and area, we examined the brain computed tomography ( CT ) images of all patients in two representative university hospitals in J apan. Methods We examined the brain CT images of 2526 patients in G ifu U niversity H ospital ( UH ) and 2573 patients in N iigata UH . These patients were examined in these hospitals from O ctober 2009 to S eptember 2010. Results Punctate calcification of the basal ganglia was observed in 435 of 2526 patients (17.2%) in G ifu UH and 530 of 2573 patients (20.6%) in N iigata UH . The frequency of calcification increased with age. Patchy calcification of the basal ganglia was observed in 32 (1.3%) and 50 patients (1.9%) in G ifu UH and N iigata UH , respectively. Among patients aged over 65 years, 24 (2.1%) and 34 (3.1%) patients showed patchy calcification in G ifu UH and N iigata UH , respectively. Calcification of the cerebellar dentate nuclei was detected in just seven and four patients in G ifu UH and N iigata UH , respectively. Conclusion Compared with previous reports, the frequency of calcification of the basal ganglia in this study markedly increased. This might be because of the increased number of older adults and the increased sensitivity of CT . Geriatr Gerontol Int 2013; 13: 706–710.