[A case of Fahr's disease presenting "diffuse neurofibrillary tangles with calcification"]

Rinsho Shinkeigaku. 2002 Aug;42(8):745-9.
[Article in Japanese]

Abstract

77-year-old woman presented memory disturbance, hallucination, and personality change since the summer of 1988. Laboratory findings revealed normal serum Ca, P, HS-PTH levels and Ellsworth-Howard test was intact. Neuroradiological studies disclosed calcification in the dentate nucleus, putamen, globus pallidus and thalamus. We made a diagnosis of Fahr's disease. During the follow-up period of 13 years, brain MRI showed gradual atrophy in temporal lobes. This case was characterized by the clinical and neuroradiological findings of "diffuse neurofibrillary tangles with calcification: DNTC". We discussed the relations of Fahr's disease and DNTC in the literatures. From our long time observation of this case, we suggest that Fahr's disease includes DNTC.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Atrophy
  • Basal Ganglia Diseases / pathology*
  • Brain / pathology*
  • Calcinosis / pathology*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Neurofibrillary Tangles / pathology*
  • Temporal Lobe / pathology
  • Time Factors