International Journal of Clinical & Medical Images

Department of Radiology, University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal

*Corresponding Author:

Ana Sofia Alves
Department of Radiology
University of Beira Interior
Covilhã, Portugal
Tel: + 351938010638
E-mail: ana.27.alves@gmail.com

Date of Submission: 28 June 2022, Manuscript No. ijcmi-22-67954; Editor assigned: 01 July 2022, Pre QC No. P-67954; Reviewed: 08 July 2022, QC No. Q-67954; Revised: 15 July 2022, Manuscript No. R-67954; Published: 22 July 2022, DOI: 10.4172/2376-0249.1000840

Citation: Alves AS. (2022) Seizures and Bilateral Basal Ganglia Calcifications Following Thyroidectomy. Int J Clin Med Imaging 9:840.

Copyright: © 2022 Alves AS. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Clinical-Medical Image

A 72-year-old woman with a past medical history of hypertension, dyslipidaemia, atrial fibrillation, heart failure and epilepsy for the last 3 years and partial thyroidectomy as of 20 years ago. She presented herself at the emergency room with a 9-month history of seizures and psychosis and was admitted for investigation. The physical examination showed neglect. Laboratory testing revealed hypocalcaemia 7.2 mg/dl (normal value, <8.8) with hyperphosphatemia 6.9 mg/dl (normal value, <4.5) and hypoparathyroidism 3.7 pg/ml (normal value, <10). Vitamin D, magnesium, albumin, and thyroid functioning testing came back normal. The brain computer tomography (CT) revealed bilateral basal ganglia calcifications (Figure 1A and 1B). Fahr’s syndrome was diagnosed.

Discussion

The diagnosed of Fahr’s syndrome was assumed considering her past medical history, the clinical presentation, physical examination findings, and subsequent investigation exams. The aetiology assumed was secondary to hypoparathyroidism related to her prior partial thyroidectomy [1]. She started treatment with calcium and calcitriol with improvement.

By using this particular case, authors aim at alerting that the presence of neuro-psychiatric symptoms and basal ganglia calcifications, Fahr’s syndrome should be considered even if rare, especially after thyroidectomy [2]. Sometimes, these symptoms attributed to dementia and some patients can be undiagnosed and not receive the correct treatment.

Also, it is important to note that there are secondary forms, such as this one, and usually these are related to abnormal calcium/phosphorus (Ca/P) homeostasis. In this case, it was due to the involuntary removal of the parathyroid glands during thyroidectomy.

The treatment should direct to the relief of symptoms and pointed to the under-lying cause. In the presence of abnormal Ca/P or parathyroid disorder, the treatment involves calcium and calcitriol, also evident in the advanced stage of this disease. Prompt treatment can prevent brain calcifications and neurophysiological disorders [3].

Keywords

Bilateral basal ganglia; Thyroidectomy

References

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2. Soares FB, Amorim FF, Santana AR, de Moura EB and Margalho, SB et al. (2013) Fahr’s syndrome due to hypoparathyroidism following thyroidectomy. J Med Case 4:380-384.

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3. Donzuso G, Mostile G, Nicoletti A, and Zappia M. (2019). Basal ganglia calcifications (Fahr’s syndrome): related conditions and clinical features. Neurol Sci 40:2251-2263.

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