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 | |
|---|---|
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| North Korean President Kim Il-sung's calcium deposit is noticeable on the back of his head in this rare newsreel still image during a diplomatic meeting between him and Chinese leader Mao Zedong in Beijing, 1970. | |
| Specialty | Endocrinology |
Types
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.
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.