title: Symmetrical thalamic calcifications in a monozygotic twin: case report and literature review.
abstract: We report the occurrence of symmetrical thalamic calcifications (STC) in one of a pair of monozygotic twins born at term without evidence of pre- or peri-natal asphyxia. STC is known to be an extremely rare condition in infants. Judging from the few cases reported in the literature, the clinical presentation is very severe: low Apgar score, no spontaneous movements, spasticity or marked hypotonia, impaired suck and swallow, facial diplegia. The prognosis is also very poor. The etiology is still a matter of debate: genetic, infectious, toxic or hypoxic-ischemic insults have been hypothesized. In our case, the presence of the lesion in one of a pair of monozygotic twins would rule out any genetic origin, nor was there any evidence of toxic or infectious disease. The only potential risk factor for fetal damage was hypoxic-ischemic insult related to the twin pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Padua, via Giustiniani 3, 35100 Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Buldini
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Drigo
authors.forename: Luigi Dalla
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Via
authors.forename: Milena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Calderone
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Laverda
mesh_terms: D001034:Apgar Score; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004401:Dysarthria / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004421:Dystonia / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005152:Facial Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology; D005311:Fetal Hypoxia / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D020925:Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007223:Infant; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011712:Pyramidal Tracts / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013788:Thalamus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed