What is ossification of the falx?

The falx cerebri ossification is a well-known phenomenon [1]; it consists of two cortical layers, like the calvarial bone, with the presence (in the 0.7% of the population) of fatty marrow in the middle [2]. Two types of falx cerebri ossification are described [3]:

What are falx cerebri made of?

The falx cerebri (also known as the cerebral falx) is a large, crescent-shaped fold of dura mater that descends vertically into the longitudinal fissure between the cerebral hemispheres of the human brain, separating the two hemispheres and supporting dural sinuses that provide venous and CSF drainage to the brain.

What does dural calcification mean?

Dural calcifications, which are a result of calcium salt deposition, should not be confused with dural ossifications, which actually involves new bone formation [29]. As the falx is derived from multipotential mesenchymal cells, they may become osteogenic after exposure to friction, haemorrhage or trauma [29, 30].

Why is falx cerebri important?

The falx cerebri separates the cerebral hemispheres and houses the dural sinuses, into which the blood and cerebrospinal fluid drain. However, it’s exact function is not entirely certain. The function of the falx cerebri may be to constrain the brain and limit its displacement and rotation inside the cranium.

What is calcification of the anterior falx?

Calcification of the falx cerebri is a common finding in CT and is considered a physiological calcification. Most radiologists don’t mention it if seen on a head CT.

Do calcium deposits show up on MRI?

In MRI, calcification appears with various signal intensities on conventional spin echo (SE) T1 or T2 weighted images (3, 4, 5), which makes it difficult to identify definitively as calcium. In gradient-echo acquisitions, calcifications usually appear as hypointense and cannot be differentiated from hemorrhage.

Can calcium deposits on your brain be serious?

While considered by many to be benign, these calcium phosphate deposits or “brain stones” can become large and are associated with neurological symptoms that range from seizures to parkinsonian symptoms.

Are ossification and calcification the same?

The key difference between calcification and ossification is that calcification is the process in which calcium salts build up in tissues, while ossification is the process of laying down new bone material or the formation of new bone tissue. The healthy skeleton system is made up of bones, ligaments and cartilage.

What do calcium deposits look like on an MRI?

Therefore, materials such as cortical bone and globular calcifications are routinely dark/dark on MRI. Areas containing microcalcifications, however, may sometimes appear paradoxically bright on T1-weighted images.

Which of these venous sinus is related to falx cerebri?

The inferior sagittal sinus is located in the lower free border of the falx cerebri between the two cerebral hemispheres.

What is ossification and when does it begin?

bone formation, also called ossification, process by which new bone is produced. Ossification begins about the third month of fetal life in humans and is completed by late adolescence.