İntrakraniyal Kalsifikasyonların Bilgisayarlı Tomografi Bulguları

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 Methods: 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, 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.