Basal ganglia calcifications in postoperative hypoparathyroidism: a case with unusual characteristics

A patient is described with post-thyroidectomy hypoparathyroidism and basal ganglia calcifications. The patient presented with a tonic-clonic seizure. The calcifications shown on CT scan were extensive in the basal ganglia, the bifrontal periventricular white matter and even in the brainstem. The white matter with calcifications displayed a high signal intensity on MRI, probably due to a different stage of the calcifying process in the white matter than in the basal ganglia. A severe dystonic reaction was observed after phenothiazine therapy and is discussed.