Surf Wiki
Save to docs
general/inborn-errors-of-metal-metabolism

From Surf Wiki (app.surf) — the open knowledge base

Ectopic calcification

Formation of calcium deposits or bone in soft tissues

Ectopic calcification
Summary

Formation of calcium deposits or bone in soft tissues

Ectopic calcification is a pathologic deposition of calcium salts in tissues or bone growth in soft tissues. This can be a symptom of hyperphosphatemia. Formation of osseous tissue in soft tissues such as the lungs, eyes, arteries, or other organs is known as ectopic calcification, dystrophic calcification, or ectopic ossification.

X-ray of right knee joint lateral view Ectopic Calcification seen extending posteriorly.

Causes

Absorption of calcium salts normally occurs in bony tissues and is facilitated by parathyroid hormone and vitamin D. However, increased amounts of parathyroid hormone in the blood result in the deposit of calcium in soft tissues. This can be an indication of hyperparathyroidism, arteriosclerosis, or trauma to tissues.

Calcification of muscle can occur after traumatic injury and is known as myositis ossificans. It can be recognized by muscle tenderness and loss of stretch in the affected area. To reduce the risk of calcification after an injury, initiate what is commonly known as "RICE" (rest, ice, compression, and elevation).

Diagnosis

Typically, the diagnosis of extra-skeletal ectopic calcification is quite straightforward. A physical examination of a suspected area with calcified deposits palpates as hard and rough. To confirm, the calcified tissues can be seen on an x-ray.

Prognosis

Ectopic ossification of the heart valves is an indicator of future heart problems, hyperparathyroidism, and necrosis of tissues.

References

References

  1. Giachelli CM. (1999). "Ectopic Calcification: Gathering Hard Facts about Soft Tissue Mineralization". Am. J. Pathol..
  2. (1998). "Post-traumatic ectopic calcification in the muscles of athletes: a review". British Journal of Sports Medicine.
Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

inborn-errors-of-metal-metabolism
Want to explore this topic further?

Ask Mako anything about Ectopic calcification — get instant answers, deeper analysis, and related topics.

Research with Mako

Free with your Surf account

Content sourced from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This content may have been generated or modified by AI. CloudSurf Software LLC is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-generated content. Always verify important information from primary sources.

Report