metastatic calcification

Etiology

• hypercalcemia
  • hypercalcemia of malignancy
  • hyperparathyroidism
  • hypervitaminosis D
  • milk alkali syndrome
  • dailysis

Pathology

• deposition of calcium salts in otherwise normal tissue as a result of hypercalcemia
• systemic, rather than localized, calcification
• principally affects interstitial tissues
  • vasculature
  • kidneys
  • lungs
  • gastric mucosa
• may also deposit in
  • muscle
  • subcutaneous tissue
  • heart
  • thyroid
  • liver
  • spleen
  • pancreas
• rapid increases in pH levels contribute to the formation of salts

Clinical manifestations

• generally asymptomatic from the calcification itself
• restrictive lung disease may develop from widespread calcification of the lung

Radiology

• calcification seen in radiographs, computed tomography

Management

• prognosis
  • may remain stable for years or be rapidly progressive

More general terms

• calcification

More specific terms

• calciphylaxis; uremic calcific arteriopathy/arteriolopathy

Additional terms

• ectopic/dystrophic calcification