Bilateral Basal Ganglia Calcification: Uncommon Manifestation in Hypoparathyroidism

Hypoparathyroidism is far less common than hyperparathyroidism. Although as many as one-half of patients in an ICU setting are reported to have hypocalcemia (<8.5mg/dl), most do not have a reduction in ionized calcium. Since adequate treatment of hypoparathyroidism may lead to marked clinical improvement, serum concentration of calcium, phosphorus, and parathyroid hormone (PTH) is suggested to be determined in all individuals with calcification of the basal ganglia to rule out hypoparathyroidism.