Intracranial Calcifications in the Pediatric Age Group: An Imaging Review

Abstract

Intracranial calcifications in the pediatric population are frequently encountered on imaging studies and may be seen in association with a variety of disease states. This review article provides an overview of the various pathological entities which may result in calcification on pediatric neuroimaging studies, including their key clinical, imaging, and histological features. For ease of discussion, disease categories are grouped into neoplastic, infectious, vascular, iatrogenic, and metabolic etiologies. The phakomatoses are discussed as well. It is hoped that the information contained in this review will assist the reader in formulating an appropriate differential diagnosis when intracranial calcifications are identified on imaging examinations.

Keywords

calcifications - tumor - infection - phakomatosis

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