[A case of dementia associated with multiple iron deposits in the brain on MRI].
We report a 63-year-old man presenting with dementia and cerebellar ataxia associated with multiple iron deposits in the brain on MRI. Numerous small lesions of low-intensity on both T1- and T2-weighted images were found in the parenchyma and surface of the cerebrum, cerebellum and brain stem. The number and size of lesions were increased on MRI with the method of gradient recalled acquisition in the steady state (GRASS), indicating that they were composed of iron. The similar lesions were not found in any organs on the abdominal GRASS-MRI. Any abnormalities were also not found in the cerebral angiography. Meanwhile, the protein and IgG levels and activated CD4-cells were increased in the cerebrospinal fluid, indicating the involvement of chronic inflammation in the iron deposits in this case.