Incidental Detection of Familial Fahr’s Disease Following a Traffic Accident - A Case Series

Abstract

Objective: To present a case series of asymptomatic patients in whom Fahr’s disease was incidentally identified during routine CT imaging after a car accident. Methods: We report three asymptomatic individuals—a 28-year-old mother and her two children (aged 8 and 5)—who presented to the emergency department following a car accident. All underwent non-contrast cranial CT as part of standard trauma protocol. Neurological examinations were non-specific, with no clinical signs of neurological dysfunction. Results: CT imaging revealed symmetrical bilateral calcifications in the basal ganglia in all three patients. In the mother, additional calcifications were present in the caudate nucleus. No evidence of acute traumatic brain injury was found. There was no known family history of neurological disease. Based on the characteristic calcification pattern and familial clustering, a presumptive diagnosis of familial Fahr’s disease was made. Further evaluation, including calcium-phosphorus metabolism testing and genetic screening, was recommended. Conclusion: These cases demonstrate that routine trauma imaging can incidentally reveal undiagnosed familial Fahr’s disease in asymptomatic individuals. Recognition of the typical radiological features allows for early diagnosis, clinical follow-up, and consideration of genetic counseling for affected individuals and their families.