Idiopathic circumscripta calcinosis cutis of the knee

Dermatol Surg. 2003 Dec;29(12):1222-4. doi: 10.1111/j.1524-4725.2003.29391.x.

Abstract

Background: Calcinosis cutis, a disease characterized by the presence of calcium deposits in the skin, is classified into four types according to etiology: dystrophic, metastatic, iatrogenic and idiopathic. The dystrophic form is the most common while the idiopathic one is the rarest, but specific incidence and frequency data are not available in scientific literature.

Objective: Calcinosis cutis circumscripta is a very rare form of idiopathic calcinosis cutis arising in the second half of life. It typically involves the extremities and is associated with prior trauma and scleroderma. We dealt with a very rare form of calcinosis cutis circumscripta in a healthy patient, for whom surgical excision revealed to be an effective and successful treatment.

Methods and materials: We present the case of a 46-year-old woman affected by idiopathic circumscripta calcinosis cutis of the left knee, successfully treated by surgical removal.

Discussion: Medical and surgical treatment are options to cure calcinosis cutis. Medical therapy is not very effective. Surgical excision has shown to be beneficial, as it can provide a symptomatic relief. However, since calcinosis cutis limits are not always well defined a recurrence of the lesions may occur.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Calcinosis / pathology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Knee
  • Skin Diseases / pathology*