The value of perforator flap reconstruction in painful soft tissue calcifications.

Soft tissue calcifications frequently cause debilitating pain and functional impairments, considerably affecting patients' quality of life. As they are rare entities, evidence remains sparse, especially regarding treatment effectiveness and recurrence rates. While both pharmacological and surgical treatments may alleviate symptoms, complete resection is currently believed to prevent long-term recurrence of deposits. To improve understanding and raise awareness for soft tissue calcifications, the goal of this study was to review the current state of treatment and to compare benefits and possibilities of flap reconstruction versus simple excision in improving quality of life. Furthermore, we include a successful case report of complete resolution of symptoms following quadruple perforator flap reconstruction. By systematic literature review, studies published in MEDLINE between 1980 and 2024 reporting on surgical treatment and outcome of soft tissue calcifications were included, in addition to a detailed description of our case report. A total of 53 studies reporting on 197 patients with soft tissue calcifications were included. Simple surgical excision was the most commonly (85.9%) employed procedure, demonstrating a substantial recurrence rate of 13.3%. In contrast, no patients who underwent radical excision experienced recurrence. Dermal matrix grafts and flap reconstruction were successfully used in patients requiring substantial tissue coverage, highlighting their value in complex defect reconstruction following radical excision. The combination of complete surgical resection and flap reconstruction reduces recurrence rates and improves postoperative outcomes and quality of life of these patients, supporting early radical surgical intervention as the gold standard treatment for soft tissue calcifications.

Extensive myocardial calcifications: a systematic literature review of a rare pathological phenomenon.

Introduction: Myocardial calcifications (MC) represent a relatively rare pathological process, which may accompany different cardiovascular conditions and can be broadly categorized as dystrophic or metastatic. Myocardial infarction (MI) has been traditionally regarded as the main cause of MC overall; however, no updated comprehensive data on the relative incidence of different forms of MC is available. The purpose of this systematic review of the literature is to analyze the currently available evidence on MC in terms of pathophysiology, diagnosis, and clinical presentation. Methods and results: A total of 241 studies including a total of 368 patients affected by extensive MC were included in the final review. The majority of patients (69.8%) presented with dystrophic MC. Endomyocardial fibrosis (EMF) represents the single most common etiology of MC (24.2%), while sepsis/acute systemic inflammatory syndrome (SIRS) and chronic kidney disease were identified as the second and third most common causes respectively. The relative incidence of etiologies also varies across the years, with MI being more represented before 1990, and sepsis/SIRS becoming the single most common cause of MC after 1990. Multimodality imaging was used in the work-up of MC in 42.7% of cases. The most commonly employed imaging modality overall was echocardiography (51.9%), while after 1990 computed tomography scan became the most widely used tool (70.1%). Conclusion: The present systematic review provides new insights into the pathophysiology of MC. Previously thought to be mainly a consequence of ischemic heart disease, our data indicate that other diseases, namely EMF and sepsis/SIRS, are indeed the main conditions associated with MC. The importance of multimodality imaging in the work-up of MC is also highlighted.

A Rare Case of Calcinosis Cutis Presenting to a Tertiary Care Hospital in Rural Maharashtra.

Calcinosis cutis is a common ailment of the skin, caused by the accumulation of calcium salts in the subcutaneous regions, though there are rare case reports from rural Maharashtra region. This condition is usually asymptomatic and might manifest as a single growth or several different-sized growths. Its clinical presentation is observed as nodules or plaques without causing injury to underlying tissues. The condition is reported to be a secondary presentation to trauma, malignancies, and connective tissue diseases and has multifactorial underlying etiologies. Recommendation for treatments including both medical and surgical procedures is contingent upon the manifestation and severity of the condition. The final decision can be based on the results obtained from diagnostic modalities like fine needle aspiration and radiological imaging. This is the case of a 35-year-old male with a swelling on his left foot for the past two years without any associated medical history. The patient was managed by surgical incision and had a good recovery.

A case of neonatal fulminant myocarditis with dystrophic calcification: Usefulness of two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography.

Dystrophic calcification is a rare but fatal complication associated with severe myocarditis. Detecting calcified lesions and evaluating ventricular function are essential for the management of myocarditis. We report a case of neonatal acute myocarditis with dystrophic calcification successfully assessed by two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography. The calcification spontaneously resolved, and the recovery of myocardial function was evaluated by speckle-tracking echocardiography. Speckle-tracking echocardiography could be a useful method to evaluate regional ventricular dysfunction corresponding to dystrophic calcification as well as that caused by myocarditis and the follow-up because of its repeatability. Learning objective: 1) Dystrophic calcification can occur as a rare complication associated with severe myocarditis. 2) Dystrophic calcification can spontaneously resolve with the recovery of myocardial function. 3) Speckle-tracking echocardiography is a useful tool for the evaluation of the extent of and myocardial function in dystrophic calcification and the follow-up.

Calcified Pilocytic Astrocytomas and Calcifying Pseudoneoplasms of the Neuraxis: A Diagnostic Challenge.

Pilocytic astrocytoma (PA), recognized as the most prevalent central nervous system (CNS) tumor, has long been associated with calcifications, a characteristic often attributed to benign or indolent growth patterns. In this study, we explored the calcified attributes in these tumors that beckon a deeper understanding. This is a retrospective study, on a set of seven cases, with a histopathological diagnosis of pilocytic astrocytoma with calcifications and psammoma bodies (PB). Despite an encouraging overall survival outcome, the recurrence in four cases cast some doubt on the conventional classification. The histological study of these cases revealed a spectrum of calcifications, varying in size and morphology, all of which exhibited positive reactivity to glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), osteoconduction, and osteopontin. Notably, the immunohistochemistry showed hyaline bodies displaying an atypical immune profile, strikingly negative for vimentin and GFAP, and a robust positivity for epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin 1 beta (IL-1ß). These results stimulated speculation that the identity of these calcified tumors may have extended and potentially embraced the realm of calcifying pseudoneoplasms of the neuraxis (CAPNON), underscored by intense pilot gliosis. This study transcends mere anatomical exploration; it delves into the intricacies of calcified tumors, casting a spotlight on the dynamic interplay between PA and CAPNON. As we traverse the frontiers of neuro-oncology, these findings pave the way for innovative avenues in the diagnostics and therapeutics of these tumors.

Sclerosing thymoma with numerous coarse calcifications.

This patient is the youngest among the previously reported sclerosing thymoma cases, and the resected mass contained numerous coarse calcifications due to dystrophic calcification. This is an unprecedented and extremely rare case.

Leg dystrophic calcification as a consequence of chronic diabetic foot infection: a case report.

Foot ulceration and infection is associated with a substantial increase in morbidity and mortality in patients with diabetes. We present a clinical case of recurrent diabetic foot infection with an atypical clinical evolution. A 58-year-old male patient with type 1 diabetes and a history of bilateral Charcot foot neuroarthropathy was followed at our Diabetic Foot Clinic for an unhealed plantar foot ulcer for >1.5 years with recurrent episodes of infection. He was admitted to hospital due to foot ulcer reinfection with sepsis and ipsilateral lower limb cellulitis. The foot infection was found to be associated with an underlying abscess in the anterior compartment of the leg, with a cutaneous fistulous course with extensive alterations of an inflammatory nature. Exudate from the lesion was drained and tissue biopsied, revealing Serratia marcescens and Klebsiella oxytoca with dystrophic calcification (DC). Surgical excision of dystrophic tissue with debridement of the fistulous tracts was performed. The excised material corroborated the presence of fibroadipose connective tissue with marked DC, as well as areas of mixed inflammation compatible with a chronic infectious aetiology. Targeted long-term antibiotic therapy was implemented, for a total of six weeks, with a favourable clinical evolution and complete closure of the lesion at the final follow-up. DC results from calcium deposition in degenerated tissues without evidence of systemic mineral imbalance and is a potential cause of non-healing ulcers. Few cases of DC have been reported in diabetic foot patients and its treatment remains challenging and controversial. A longer follow-up period is necessary to verify the effectiveness of our approach.

Peripheral Ameloblastoma with Dystrophic Calcification: An Unusual Feature in Non-Calcifying Odontogenic Tumors

Peripheral ameloblastoma is a rare extraosseous counterpart of central ameloblastoma that occurs in soft tissues and may cause bone crest resorption. This study reports a peripheral ameloblastoma on the buccal gingiva of a 56-year-old man, which presented extensive squamous metaplasia areas, keratinization and dystrophic calcifications in the neoplastic islands. It is emphasized the need of a detailed imaging study and a long follow-up period to exclude bone involvement whenever peripheral ameloblastoma diagnosis is considered.

Ameloblastoma periférico é a contraparte rara extraóssea do ameloblastoma central, que ocorre em tecidos moles e pode causar reabsorção da crista óssea. Este estudo reporta um ameloblastoma periférico localizado na gengiva vestibular de um homem de 56 anos de idade, que apresentava extensas áreas de metaplasia escamosa, queratinização e calcificação distrófica dentro das ilhas neoplásicas. É enfatizada a necessidade de um estudo de imagem detalhado e acompanhamento prolongado para excluir envolvimento ósseo sempre que o diagnóstico de ameloblastoma periférico for considerado.

Calcifying Lupus panniculitis in a patient without manifestations of systemic lupus Erythematosus / Paniculitis Lúpica calcificante en un paciente sin manifestaciones de lupus eritematoso sistémico

Lupus panniculitis or lupus profundus is a variant of lupus Erythematosus cutaneous that primarily affects subcutaneous tissue. Clinically, it is characterized by one or several firm subcutaneous nodules and/or plaques with or without overlying epidermal changes. It is reported to occur with a frequency of 2-3% in patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). Between 10 and 50 percent of patients with lupus panniculitis will have or eventually develop Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. In nearly all cases there are deep, erythematosus plaques and nodules, and some of them ulcers, which usually involve the proximal extremities, trunk, breasts, buttocks, and face. These lesions may be tender and painful and frequently heal with atrophy and scaring, turning as a chronic condition and subsequently heal with disfigurement. We describe a patient who suffers from lupus panniculitis with no association to SLE symptoms and complicated by several progressive and disabling cutaneous lesions.

La paniculitis lúpica o también llamada lupus profundus es una variante del lupus eritematoso cutáneo que afecta el tejido celular subcutáneo. Se caracteriza clínicamente por uno o varios nódulos subcutáneos que son firmes y/o placa con o sin cambios epidérmicos. Se ha informado su frecuencia en 2% a 3% de casos de Lupus eritematoso sistémico. Entre el 10 al 50% de los casos de paniculitis lúpica va a desarrollar lupus eritematoso sistémico. En casi todos los casos hay placas eritematosas y/o nódulos que en algunos casos se ulceran y que usualmente están localizados en las áreas proximales de las extremidades, tronco, mamas, nalgas y la cara. Estas lesiones pueden ser clínicamente dolorosas y sensibles a la presión y frecuentemente cicatrizan con desfiguración del área circundante. Describimos un paciente que padece de paniculitis lúpica sin asociación de lupus eritematoso sistémico y que se complicó con varias lesiones cutáneas progresivas y discapacitantes.