[Idiopathic nonatherosclerotic symmetrical calcification of the cerebral vessels]

A case of calcification of vessels of the basal ganglia in an 18-year-old girl is described. The authors consider the clinical and radiological picture, the differential diagnostic criteria, and modern methods of the diagnosis of the syndrome of idiopathic non-atherosclerotic symmetrical calcification of the cerebral vessels. A review of the modern notions about the etiology and pathogenesis of calcification of vessels of basal ganglia is presented. Conversely to calcification of the cerebral vessels related to dysfunction of the parathyroid glands, etiopathogenetic aspects of the syndrome of idiopathic non-atherosclerotic calcification of the basal ganglia still remain obscure.