Calcinosis

Calcinosis is the formation of calcium deposits in any soft tissue. It is a rare condition that has many different causes. These range from infection and injury to systemic diseases like kidney failure.

Calcinosis cutis

Types

While calcinosis can be classified based on which tissue it originates in and also based on etiology. When it comes to the skin, also called calcinosis cutis, there are four types of calcinosis cutis: idiopathic, dystrophic, metastatic, and iatrogenic

Dystrophic calcification

The most common type of calcinosis is dystrophic calcification. This type of calcification can occur as a response to any soft tissue damage, including that involved in implantation of medical devices.

Calcinosis cutis

Metastatic calcification

Metastatic calcification involves a systemic calcium excess imbalance, which can be caused by hypercalcemia, kidney failure, milk-alkali syndrome, lack or excess of other minerals, or other causes.

Tumoral calcinosis

The cause of the rare condition of tumoral calcinosis is not entirely understood. It is generally characterized by large, globular calcifications near joints.

See also

• Calcinosis cutis
• Dermatomyositis
• Fahr's syndrome
• Hypercalcemia
• Hyperphosphatemia
• Primrose syndrome
• Scleroderma

External links

Classification	MeSH: D002114
External resources

• Univ. Washington School of Medicine article on Soft Tissue Calcifications

Calcinosis Resources
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