Calcinosis cutis is a type of

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. Types Dystrophic calcification The most c ...

wherein calcium deposits form in the skin. A variety of factors can result in this condition. The most common source is

dystrophic calcification Dystrophic calcification (DC) is the calcification occurring in degenerated or necrotic tissue, as in hyalinized scars, degenerated foci in leiomyomas, and caseous nodules. This occurs as a reaction to tissue damage, including as a consequence ...

, which occurs in soft tissue as a response to injury. In addition, calcinosis is seen in Limited Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis, also known as

CREST syndrome CREST syndrome, also known as the limited cutaneous form of systemic sclerosis (lcSSc), is a multisystem connective tissue disorder. The acronym "CREST" refers to the five main features: calcinosis, Raynaud's phenomenon, esophageal dysmotility, ...

(the "C" in CREST). In dogs, calcinosis cutis is found in young, large breed dogs and is thought to occur after a traumatic injury.

Causes

Calcinosis may result from a variety of causes such as: *Trauma to the region *Inflammation (bug bites, acne) *

Varicose veins Varicose veins, also known as varicoses, are a medical condition in which superficial veins become enlarged and twisted. These veins typically develop in the legs, just under the skin. Varicose veins usually cause few symptoms. However, some indiv ...

*Infections *

Tumors A neoplasm () is a type of abnormal and excessive growth of tissue. The process that occurs to form or produce a neoplasm is called neoplasia. The growth of a neoplasm is uncoordinated with that of the normal surrounding tissue, and persists ...

(malignant or benign) *Diseases of connective tissue * Hypercalcemia *

Hyperphosphatemia Hyperphosphatemia is an electrolyte disorder in which there is an elevated level of phosphate in the blood. Most people have no symptoms while others develop calcium deposits in the soft tissue. Often there is also low calcium levels which can ...

Calcinosis cutis is associated with

systemic sclerosis Systemic scleroderma, or systemic sclerosis, is an autoimmune rheumatic disease characterised by excessive production and accumulation of collagen, called fibrosis, in the skin and internal organs and by injuries to small arteries. There are two ...

Diagnosis

Types

Calcinosis cutis may be divided into the following types: * Dystrophic calcinosis cutis * Metastatic calcinosis cutis *

Iatrogenic calcinosis cutis Calcinosis cutis is a type of calcinosis wherein calcium deposits form in the skin. A variety of factors can result in this condition. The most common source is dystrophic calcification, which occurs in soft tissue as a response to injury. I ...

Traumatic calcinosis cutis Calcinosis cutis is a type of calcinosis wherein calcium deposits form in the skin. A variety of factors can result in this condition. The most common source is dystrophic calcification, which occurs in soft tissue as a response to injury. I ...

Idiopathic calcinosis cutis An idiopathic disease is any disease with an unknown cause or mechanism of apparent spontaneous origin. From Greek ἴδιος ''idios'' "one's own" and πάθος ''pathos'' "suffering", ''idiopathy'' means approximately "a disease of its own kin ...

Idiopathic scrotal calcinosis Idiopathic scrotal calcinosis is a cutaneous condition characterized by calcification of the skin resulting from the deposition of calcium and phosphorus occurring on the scrotum. However, the levels of calcium and phosphate in the blood are norma ...

Subepidermal calcified nodule Subepidermal calcified nodule is a type of Calcinosis cutis. It's a cutaneous condition characterized by calcification of the skin resulting from the deposition of calcium and phosphorus, occurring most frequently as one or a few skin lesions on th ...

Tumoral calcinosis Tumoral calcinosis is a rare condition in which there is calcium deposition in the soft tissue in periarticular location, around joints, outside the joint capsule. They are frequently (0.5–3%) seen in patients undergoing renal dialysis. Clinica ...

Osteoma cutis Osteoma cutis is a cutaneous condition characterized by the presence of bone within the skin in the absence of a preexisting or associated lesion. See also * Calcinosis cutis * Skin lesion * List of cutaneous conditions Many skin conditio ...

Treatment

Intralesional corticosteroids may be beneficial. Colchicine has been shown to be effective in certain populations. The efficacy of other treatments, such as magnesium or aluminum antacids, sodium etidronate, diphosphonates and diltiazem is unclear, but they have been reported to be serviceable in refractory calcinosis. Surgical options may be considered, particularly if there is associated ulceration.

Gallery

Image:Calcinosis cutis dog.jpg, Calcinosis cutis in a dog with

Cushing's syndrome Cushing's syndrome is a collection of signs and symptoms due to prolonged exposure to glucocorticoids such as cortisol. Signs and symptoms may include high blood pressure, abdominal obesity but with thin arms and legs, reddish stretch marks, a ...

Image:Calcinosis cutis.jpg, Histopathology of calcinosis cutis in human tissue

References

External links

Skin conditions resulting from errors in metabolism {{Cutaneous-condition-stub