title: Quantitative MR Markers and Psychiatric Symptoms in a Patient with Fahr Disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Fahr's disease (FD), or primitive idiopathic calcification of the basal ganglia, is a rare neurodegenerative syndrome characterized by the presence of idiopathic bilateral and symmetrical cerebral calcifications.
  
  
  METHODS
  We describe the case of 43-year-old woman presenting with psychiatric symptoms, disorganized behavior, and migraine. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination showed basal ganglia calcifications. In addition, we analyzed the cortical brain volume and noted cortical atrophy. Extensive etiological clinico-biological assessment allowed us to exclude known causes of brain calcifications and to diagnose Fahr disease (FD). Neurological symptoms associated with psychiatric manifestations are not uncommon in FD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Purely psychiatric presentations are possible, as demonstrated by the present case, although there have been very few cases reported. To date, no studies related to the brain atrophy in FD have been reported.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hospitalization and Care Scientific (IRCCS), Centro Neurolesi "Bonino Pulejo", Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Viviana
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lo Buono
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hospitalization and Care Scientific (IRCCS), Centro Neurolesi "Bonino Pulejo", Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Corallo
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hospitalization and Care Scientific (IRCCS), Centro Neurolesi "Bonino Pulejo", Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hospitalization and Care Scientific (IRCCS), Centro Neurolesi "Bonino Pulejo", Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Placido
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bramanti
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Morphological and Functional Imaging, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marino
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001479:Basal Ganglia / Q000473:pathology*; D001480:Basal Ganglia Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed