Are calcifications in the brain dangerous?

The brain is the main controlling organ of human activities, and all human activities require the support of the brain. But many people, especially middle-aged and elderly people, have found that calcification spots have appeared in their brains. Brain calcification points are generally divided into two types. If the calcification points are caused by lesions, you need to seek medical attention in time, but if they are formed naturally, they will not harm the human body. So, is it dangerous to have calcifications in the brain?

There are two types of brain calcification: physiological and pathological. Physiological calcification is normal, such as the calcification of the pineal gland, choroid plexus, and lentiform nucleus in adults, which does not require any treatment. Pathological calcification is seen in gliomas, parasites, etc. The treatment of pathological calcification depends on the specific circumstances.

Choroid plexus calcification

Choroid plexus calcifications occur primarily in the lateral ventricles and rarely in the third and fourth ventricles. Calcification foci may be dot-shaped, with a diameter greater than 1 cm, and may be round or irregular in shape. Calcifications are usually bilaterally symmetrical but may be asymmetrical or unilateral. For space-occupying lesions such as brain tumors, sometimes observing whether the calcified choroid plexus is displaced and the direction of displacement may help locate the space-occupying lesions.

Section 2 Calcification of the pineal gland and habenula

It is common in adults and becomes more likely to occur with age. About 75% of normal adults show pineal calcification on CT scans. Their diameter usually ranges from 3 to 5 mm, but they may sometimes be wider. The following three situations should be considered as the possibility of pineal region tumors, and MRI examination should be performed to confirm if necessary.

(1) Pineal gland calcification greater than 12 mm.

(2) The calcified pineal gland is significantly deviated from the midline.

(3) Pineal gland calcification occurs in children under 10 years old.

The habenular symphysis is located in front of the pineal gland on the dorsal side of the third ventricle After the age of 30, 15% of brain CT scans may show habenular calcification. Despite its characteristic shape, it is often mistaken for pineal calcification, which is typically "C" shaped.