The quite common presentation of soft-tissue calcifications, the vast array of pathologies causing them and the possibility of the etiology being a sinister one makes it obligatory for the radiologist to be aware of the imaging features in identifyng the underlying clinical condition. Putting this across in a pictorial review is our objective.
Soft-tissue calcification is frequently encountered in radiological practice. The differential diagnosis is long but as many as 95% of all soft tissue calcification is dystrophic and causes include venous insufficiency, parasitic infestation, drugs and bone forming tumours. The remaining 5% of causes include autoimmune conditions such as dermatomyositis and scleroderma, metastatic calcification (chronic renal failure, hyperparathyroidism, sarcoidosis), trauma and tumoral calcinosis. Plain radiographic appearances together with a good clinical history and biochemistry are often conclusive in evaluating such lesions. In certain situations further imaging is necessary. Computed tomography, radioisotope bone scans and magnetic resonance imaging will complement each other in such situations. We illustrate the spectrum of causes of soft-tissue calcification and outline a method of arriving at the correct diagnosis.
Vasireddy, N,
Curtis, J,
Soft Tissue Calcification: A Pictorial Review. Radiological Society of North America 2005 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 27 - December 2, 2005 ,Chicago IL.
http://archive.rsna.org/2005/4410244.html
