A Case of Fahr's Disease Presenting with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Familial idiopathic basal ganglion calcification (Fahr’s disease) is described as bilateral idiopathic calcifications in basal ganglions, nucleus dentatus and centrum semiovale. The disease presents itself with radiologic, neurologic, psychiatric and cognitive findings. Although generally it is an autosomal dominantly transmitted disorder, the transmission can also be autosomal recessive. Our knowledge on the origin and pathology of this disease is limited due to the fact that most of the basal ganglion calcification cases are asymptomatic. In this case report, the differential diagnosis and the neuroimaging findings of a fifty-five-year-old patient, whose complaints have started five years ago mainly with obsessive-compulsive findings, are discussed. In the literature there is no case of Fahr’s disease presenting solely with obsessive compulsive disorder. We think that this case report will cast a new light to the literature. (Arc-hi-ves of Neu-ropsy-chi-atry 2012; 49: 308-310)