Tumoral calcinosis in the cervical spine: a case report and review of the literature

J Med Case Rep. 2017 Oct 27;11(1):304. doi: 10.1186/s13256-017-1474-1.

Abstract

Background: Tumoral calcinosis is rarely located in spine. A 55-year-old Japanese woman with cervical tumoral calcinosis is presented, along with a review of the literature relating to tumoral calcinosis in the spine. We discussed the etiology, diagnosis, and management of this condition.

Case presentation: We report a case of a patient with cervical tumoral calcinosis with end-stage renal disease. A computed tomography scan showed a lobulated, calcified mass around the right facet joint at the fourth-fifth cervical spine and calcifications were also observed in the right intervertebral foramens at fourth-fifth cervical spine and fifth-sixth cervical spine levels and the anterior wall of the spinal canal. By performing a cervical decompression and stabilization, the patient recovered from her neurological symptoms.

Conclusions: Although tumoral calcinosis is rarely located in the spine, it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of spinal lesions. If a calcified mass causes acute neurological symptoms, resection of the mass is still the most important treatment.

Keywords: Dialysis; Renal failure; Spine; Tumoral calcinosis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Calcinosis / diagnostic imaging*
  • Calcinosis / surgery*
  • Cervical Vertebrae / diagnostic imaging
  • Cervical Vertebrae / surgery
  • Decompression, Surgical / methods
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Spinal Diseases / diagnostic imaging*
  • Spinal Diseases / surgery*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods
  • Treatment Outcome