Soft Tissue, Tumoural calcinosis [LMP45728]

LMP45728 Thumbnail
View the Zoomify Image
Image Details
Diagnostic Modality: 
Whole Slide Image
Disease Category: 
Cellular Responses to Stress and Toxic Insults: Adaptation, Injury, and Death
Diagnosis: 
Tumoural calcinosis
Species: 
Human
Organ System: 
Bones, Joints, and Soft-Tissue Tumours
Gender: 
Female
Age: 
54 years
Diagnosis Code: 
ICD-10: L94.2
Slide Contributor Information
Gao, A., Keith, J.

Keywords

calcium, calcification, calcium hydroxyapatite deposition, metastatic calcification

Clinical History

54-year-old woman who underwent C5/6 discectomy.

Clinical Discussion

Tumoral calcinosis is the tumor-like deposition of calcium hydroxyapatite in periarticular soft tissues. It occurs in 3 forms: sporadic (most common), familial, and secondary (e.g. chronic renal failure). Most commonly, the subcutaneous tissue around large joints is involved. Microscopically, tumoral calcinosis appears as amorphous granular material (hydroxyapaptite crystals) within cystic spaces with variable degrees of “chunky” basophilic calcification. The cystic spaces are separated by thick fibrous septa and lined by histiocytes and sometimes multinucleated giant cells. The prognosis is benign in sporadic cases; familial forms may recur; secondary forms depend on treatment of the underlying condition.