calcinosis

Introduction

Deposition of Ca+2 in nodular foci in tissue other than the viscera.

Etiology

• disorders of Ca+2 & or phosphorous metabolism
• inflammatory, degenerative or neoplastic disease, scleroderma (calcinosis cutis)
• dermatomyositis (calcinosis universalis)
• milk alkali syndrome (reversible calcinosis)

Epidemiology

• calcinosis universalis (young patients)

Pathology

• deposition of calcium in the skin & subcutaneous tissues
  • calcinosis circumscripta
  • calcinosis universalis
  • calcinosis cutis
• calcification of collagen in large joints
  • tumoral calcinosis
  • genetic disorder in South African Blacks
• deposition in connective tissue & other sites
  • calcinosis universalis (may be fatal)

Laboratory

• serum Ca+2 & phosphorous general within normal limits (calcinosis universalis)

More general terms

• metabolic disease

More specific terms

• diaphragmatic calcification
• eggshell calcification