Parkinsonism in Postoperative Hypoparathyroidism

CALCIFICATION in the region of the basal ganglia occurs in a number of disease states and may be associated with the clinical features of parkinsonism. Such calcification is seen frequently in idiopathic- and pseudohypoparathyroidism.1In contrast, it is reported to be of rare occurrence in postoperative hypoparathyroidism.2,3 The purpose of this report is to present three patients who developed parkinsonism following thyroidectomy, two of whom had calcification in the region of the basal ganglia. The relation between hypoparathyroidism, basal ganglia calcification, and parkinsonism will be discussed. Report of Cases Case 1. —A 68-year-old woman (HFH 05-10-18) had a subtotal thyroidectomy for a nontoxic goiter in 1940. Following this operation, she experienced hoarseness and muscle cramping which subsided after treatment with oral calcium supplements. The patient was then well until 1960, at age 65, when she experienced increasing fatigue, muscle stiffness, and leg cramps. She also noticed tremor of