Related Experiment Videos
[Incidence of pineal calcification in the first 18 years of life]
Insights
Pineal calcifications are common in children, even under age six, and appear to be a normal physiological finding in a significant percentage. This study investigated their frequency in pediatric skull films.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Radiology
- Neuroimaging
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Limited data exists on the frequency and pathological significance of pineal calcifications in children, especially those under six years old.
- Existing literature presents sparse or contradictory findings regarding early childhood pineal gland calcification.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the frequency of pineal gland calcifications in a pediatric population using skull radiography.
- To assess the prevalence and potential physiological nature of pineal calcifications in children under six years of age.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 1044 consecutive anterior-posterior and lateral skull films.
- Diagnosis of pineal calcification required agreement between two authors and confirmation by at least two of four localization methods.
- Computed Cranial Tomography (CCT) was used to confirm calcifications in a subset of patients.
Main Results:
- Pineal calcifications were detected in 80 patients (7.7% overall frequency).
- Frequency increased from 3% in infants (0-12 months) to 7.1% by age 10.
- A significant rise was observed from age 10 onwards, reaching 33% by age 18.
Conclusions:
- Pineal calcifications are present in a notable percentage of children, even those younger than six years.
- The findings suggest that pineal calcifications can be a physiological occurrence in early childhood.
- This study provides valuable epidemiological data on pineal calcification prevalence in pediatric populations.
Abstract:
There are sparse or contradictory data on frequency and pathological significance of pineal calcifications in childhood. This is particularly so for children younger than 6 years of age. We therefore looked for pineal gland calcifications in 1044 consecutive a.p. and lateral skull films. Pineal calcification was diagnosed, if accepted by both authors, and if the calcified spot fitted into at least 2 of 4 localisation methods. 80 patients with pineal calcifications were detected using this method. In 40 of these patients CCT confirmed the calcification. The frequency of pineal calcification was 3% in the first 12 months of life rising gradually to 7.1% in children of 10 years of age. From 10 years onwards, there is a marked increase of frequency of calcifications of the pineal gland up to 33% in the group of children of 18 years of age. In contrast to some statements in literature, pineal calcifications seem to be physiological in a limited percentage even below the age of 6 years.