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Calcific Periarthritis

Summary

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.

Most patients with this lesion are middle-aged.
Patients present with local pain, tenderness, swelling, and warmth.
Xrays show a mass of homogeneous, amorphous calcific material in the soft tissues near a joint.
No treatment is necessary other than rest and analgesics.
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.
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