Calcification of the Corpus Striatum and Dentate Nuclei Occurring in a Family

Dense symmetrical calcification of the corpus striatum is rare, but of some general interest for two reasons. First, in a significant number of the reported cases this apparently degenerative condi- tion is closely linked with a metabolic disorder, hypoparathyroidism, which may be idiopathic, parathyroprivic, or of the variety in which the parathyroid glands are histologically normal but the body is unable to respond to parathormone (Albright's pseudohypoparathyroidism). Secondly, in no other degenerative disease limited to a neurophysiological system can the process be visualized radiologically. In contrast with the rare gross calcification under discussion, microscopically demonstrable calcification occurring on a basis of hyaline degeneration in and around the vessels in these regions is very common, and can, indeed, be found to a certain extent in normal brains.