Intracranial calcifications on CT: an updated review

J Radiol Case Rep. 2019 Aug 31;13(8):1-18. doi: 10.3941/jrcr.v13i8.3633. eCollection 2019 Aug.

Abstract

Intracranial calcifications are frequently encountered in non-contrast computed tomography scan in both adult and pediatric age groups. They refer to calcifications within the brain parenchyma or vasculature and can be classified into several major categories: physiologic/age-related, dystrophic, congenital disorders/phakomatoses, infectious, vascular, neoplastic, metabolic/endocrine, inflammatory and toxic diseases. In this updated review, we present a wide spectrum of intracranial calcifications from both pediatric and adult populations focusing on their pattern, size and location.

Keywords: Adult calcification; CT; Intracranial calcifications; Pathologic calcifications; Pediatric calcifications; Physiologic calcifications.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Brain / diagnostic imaging*
  • Brain Diseases / diagnostic imaging*
  • Brain Diseases / etiology
  • Calcification, Physiologic*
  • Calcinosis / diagnostic imaging*
  • Calcinosis / etiology
  • Humans
  • Terminology as Topic
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed