Calcific Periarthritis

Summary
Description

Calcific periarthritis is a benign condition characterized by deposits of calcium in the soft tissues around joints. It is often associated with disorders of metabolism.

People and Age
Most patients with this lesion are middle-aged.
Symptoms and Presentation
Patients present with local pain, tenderness, swelling, and warmth.
Brief description of the xray
Xrays show a mass of homogeneous, amorphous calcific material in the soft tissues near a joint.
Brief desc of tx
No treatment is necessary other than rest and analgesics.
Tumor Type
Benign or Malignant
Body region
Most Common Bones
Tumor density
Complete Information on this Tumor
Introduction and Definition

Calcific periarthritis is a benign condition characterized by deposits of calcium in the soft tissues around joints. It is often associated with disorders of metabolism such as end-stage renal failure, diabetes mellitus, rheumatoid arthritis, collagen vascular disease, vitamin D intoxication, and others. Chronic repetitive injury or microtrauma, leading to tissue damage and degeneration and calcification, has been proposed as a possible cause.

Incidence and Demographics
Most patients with this lesion are middle-aged, and have some underlying metabolic or systemic abnormality that leads to the condition. The mean age is 45 with a typical range of 40 to 70 years. Children as young as 7 and 11 years have been reported to have this lesion, even when no apparent underlying cause is present.
Symptoms and Presentation

Patients present with local pain, tenderness, swelling, and warmth.

X-Ray Appearance and Advanced Imaging Findings
Xrays show a mass of homogeneous, amorphous calcific material in the soft tissues near a joint, that may be well define or poorly defined.
Differential Diagnosis
Tumoral calcinosis, synovial sarcoma, myositis ossificans, synovial chondromatosis
Preferred Biopsy Technique for this Tumor
open
Histopathology findings
The material consists of calcium hydroxyapatitie and sometimes other calcium phosphate crystals, such as tricalcium phosphate and octacalcium phosphate.
Treatment Options for this Tumor
Rest and analgesics or surgical excision. In unusual cases or where there is significant morbidity, the lesion can be excised after appropriate diagnostic confirmation.
Preferred Margin for this Tumor
marginal
Outcomes of Treatment and Prognosis
Outcomes of surgical excision are generally excellent.