Basal ganglia: anatomy, pathology, and imaging characteristics
Section snippets
Anatomy
The anatomy and relationships of the basal ganglia can be confusing because of the variety of terms and definitions that describe this area, the complex interconnections, and the physiologic and chemical interactions. The components and method of naming the structures depends on whether one concentrates on the biochemical, embryological, or functional aspects of these complex structures. Numerous terms are used to describe the anatomy. In general, there are 4 major nuclei: (1) the corpus
Imaging
For the purposes of imaging, the structures of primary importance are: caudate, putamen, globus pallidus, and substantia nigra.
Calcification
Calcifications of the basal ganglia warrant special consideration because it is frequently seen and it is often perplexing as to when this finding needs to be further worked up. Brain CT scan, which easily detects calcium, is the preferred method to localize and assess the extent of cerebral calcifications. On MRI, calcified areas in the basal ganglia give a low-intensity signal on T2-weighted images and a low- or high-intensity signal on T1-weighted planes.
Any process that alters cerebral
Pathology
The basal ganglia are often involved in a bilateral fashion. Unilateral findings are often vascular insults. When bilateral abnormalities are encountered, the differential diagnoses in Table 1 should be considered.
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