The high rate of prevalence of CT-detected basal ganglia calcification in neuropsychiatric (CNS) brucellosis.
Of 65 cases presenting with neuropsychiatric manifestations of brucellosis (CNS-brucellosis), 9(13.8%) had CT-detected basal ganglia calcification (BGC). Of these, 5 had meningitis and 4 had psychiatric manifestations as presenting features. The diagnosis of brucellosis was made by the finding of consistent history and physical findings and the presence of significantly elevated antibody titres and/or positive culture in the blood and/or CSF. In all the cases, BGC was in the form of punctate hyperdense non-enhancing shadows with average density 44.5-58.4 and maximum density 49-64HU. The calcification was unilateral in 3 cases, bilateral and symmetrical in 4 and bilateral but asymmetrical in 2. None of the cases had other predisposing conditions to BGC and in one of the cases did specific anti-brucella treatment effect a detectable change in the BGC. The finding of CT-detected BGC in patients coming from areas endemic for brucellosis should alert physicians to the possibility of underlying brucellar infection.
Al-Adan Hospital, Department of Biostatistics, Kurwait University.
A M
AM
Mousa
S A
SA
Muhtaseb
R R
RR
Reddy
A
A
Senthilselvan
D S
DS
Al-Mudallal
A A
AA
Marafie
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001480:Basal Ganglia Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D002006:Brucellosis; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007730:Kuwait; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed