Basal Ganglia Calcifications

History: 85 year old male presents with headache.

Single axial CT scan of the head without contrast shows calcifications within the basal ganglia (globus pallidi).

These calcifications in elderly patients are most likely secondary to normal aging; however, other entities cause bilateral symmetric basal ganglia calcifications. The differential includes congenital infections such as CMV and HIV, and more rare conditions such as MELAS (Mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes) in children, Fahr disease, and Leigh syndrome, among others.