Tumoral calcinosis

Definition

Rare disease characterized by soft tissue deposition of hydroxyapatite, and an elevated phosphate.

Epidemiology

Found in first or second decades.

Often familial

Affects blacks more than whites

Aetiology

Unknown

Clinical

Firm painless swellings adjacent to joints, at sites exposed to daily trauma, such as the elbows, knees.

As the lesions enlarge they may cause disfiguration, functional impairment, ulceration and secondary infection.

Radiology

Well defined lobulated masses of calcification in periarticular tissue

Laboratory

The phosphate is elevated.  The calcium is normal.

Treatment

Complete surgical excision, but recurrence is common.