A 52-Year-Old Female with Multiple Swellings in Both Hands: Idiopathic Calcinosis Cutis

Abstract

Calcinosis cutis is a rare disorder characterized by deposition of insoluble calcium salts in skin and subcutaneous tissue. Depending upon the aetiology, there are five subtypes of calcinosis cutis described in the literature; dystrophic, metastatic, idiopathic, iatrogenic, and calciphylaxis. Idiopathic calcinosis cutis is rarely described in the literature. We herein report a 52-year-old female presented with calcinosis cutis in both hands. After ruling out metabolic and systemic causes of abnormal calcium deposition, the patient was diagnosed with idiopathic calcinosis cutis. The patient was prescribed oral diltiazem (1 mg/kg). Despite limited treatment success in idiopathic calcinosis cutis, it is imperative to differentiate it from other disorders of calcium metabolism which can be managed by treating the underlying condition.

Keywords: calcinosis cutis; diltiazem; idiopathic.