[Idiopathic unilateral calcification of basal nuclei (author's transl)]

A case of idiopathic unilateral (left) idiopatic basal ganglia calcification with associated extrapiramidal controlateral symptoms is described. The patient, a 20 years old man, showed since childhood a progressive motor impairment of his right limbs more obvious in his arms. Neurological examination showed hypertonia, distonia, motor and other extrapiramidal impairments of his right limbs. Skull X Ray and CT scan revealed left basal ganglia calcification. Laboratory investigations excluded all the common diseases with basal ganglia calcifications: tumors, tiroid and paratiroid disorders, parassites, vascular, inflammatory or degenerative diseases. Psycodiagnostic tests did not reveal relevant abnormalities. We cannot say with certainty that this is a sporadic case as we were unable to examine the whole family. Slight improvement of symptoms was obtained using orfenadrine and diazepam.