Symptomatic spinal calcinosis in systemic sclerosis (scleroderma)

Arthritis Rheum. 1997 Oct;40(10):1892-5. doi: 10.1002/art.1780401025.

Abstract

Two patients with diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis and spinal calcification, involving the lumbar spine in one and the cervical spine in the other, are described. Computed tomography-guided aspiration of the calcific masses was performed, and material aspirated from one patient was shown to be apatite, Ca5(PO4)3OH. One patient showed improvement following lumbar laminotomy, hemilaminectomy, and diskectomy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Calcinosis / diagnostic imaging
  • Calcinosis / etiology*
  • Calcinosis / pathology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lumbosacral Region
  • Microscopy, Electron
  • Middle Aged
  • Scleroderma, Systemic / complications*
  • Spinal Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Spinal Diseases / etiology*
  • Spinal Diseases / pathology
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed