Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41322693›Full record

ArticleSAGE open medical case reports2025

Silent stone: Idiopathic presentation of Fahr's disease.

John K Jung, Ismail Zazay, James R Burmeister, Abdul Khan

Abstract readCase Reports
In one paragraph

Article in SAGE open medical case reports, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

John K JungJohn Sealy School of Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.
Ismail ZazayJohn Sealy School of Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0001-5544-0594
James R BurmeisterDepartment of Foundational Medical Studies, Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, Rochester, MI, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0003-9682-365X
Abdul KhanUniversity of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Fahr's disease is a rare neurodegenerative disorder that involves bilateral calcifications within the brain, most notably affecting areas such as the basal ganglia, thalami, and cerebellum. It is typically identified through its association with movement abnormalities, cognitive decline, or psychiatric symptoms; however, asymptomatic cases may be underrecognized, with studies suggesting a substantial proportion of patients remain without symptoms.³ In this report, a 45-year-old male came to the emergency department after experiencing a fall, complaining of rib pain and dizziness. During his trauma workup, a noncontrast computed tomography scan of the head incidentally revealed widespread bilateral calcifications in the basal ganglia, thalami, subcortical white matter, and cerebellar dentate nuclei. Subsequent magnetic resonance imaging supported the computed tomography findings, offering a clearer view of the extent of the calcifications. Laboratory tests, including assessments of calcium, phosphate, parathyroid hormone, magnesium, vitamin D, and thyroid function, returned normal results. Furthermore, comprehensive neurological and psychiatric evaluations found no abnormalities. Despite the extensive radiological evidence of brain calcification, the patient had no clinical symptoms. There was also no relevant family history of Fahr's disease. These findings point to an idiopathic, asymptomatic form of the disease. This case emphasizes the importance of recognizing radiographic findings in the absence of clinical symptoms. Although identification and follow-up of such cases is often suggested, there is currently no evidence that this improves patient outcomes. Moreover, documenting asymptomatic cases helps expand understanding of the disease's variability, natural course, and prognostic implications.

Indexed as

asymptomatic presentationbasal gangliacase reportFahr’s syndromeintracerebral calcificationsneurologyradiology

Identifiers

PMID41322693
PMCPMC12663054

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