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Tumoral calcinosis

Case contributed by Matt A. Morgan
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Progressive pain and swelling in the thighs.

Patient Data

Age: 25 years
Gender: Female
x-ray

There is a large amount of "fluffy" heterotopic calcification around the right hip joint. The underlying proximal right femur is not well seen, but appears intact.

A rim-calcified fibroid is also noted.

ct

CT reconstructions of the tumoral calcinosis.

Case Discussion

Tumoral calcinosis occurs when a large amount calcium salts deposit into the soft tissues. The calcium deposition is considered heterotopic, but it is neither ossification nor osteoid matrix formation. The calcifications are separate from bone.

Large amounts of periarticular calcinosis may occur as a result of:

or it may be idiopathic in younger people, as in this case. Technically, only the idiopathic form is known as "tumoral calcinosis".

A differential diagnosis includes:

In this case, the patient age, the normal renal and thyroid function, and the bilateral findings, point toward idiopathic "tumoral calcinosis".

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