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Tumoral calcinosis revisited: pathophysiology and treatment

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Abstract

In two renal failure patients, tumoral calcinoses were observed as a result of secondary hyperparathyroidism. The primary conservative therapy conducted with dietetic measures and phosphate-binding medication could not prevent the progression of the massive polytopic foci. Therefore, a subtotal parathyroidectomy was performed in one case, after which a rapid complete regression of the tumours was observed, with the exception of one location where the finding remained progressive. The second patient declined surgical intervention on the parathyroid gland. Therefore, the foci were only resected, whereby local recurrences were observed. Renal failure patients with tumoral calcinosis should undergo subtotal parathyroidectomy after initial conservative therapy. In view of the high risk of recurrence, local excision is a treatment procedure to be considered in exceptional cases only.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to express our thanks to Professor Dr. Veit Krenn from the Institute for Pathology of the Charité/Humboldt University of Berlin for carrying out the histopathological diagnosis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Orthopaedic Department, Humboldt University Berlin (Charité), Berlin, Germany

    Gregor Möckel, Karsten Labs & Carsten Perka

  2. Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Humboldt University Berlin (Charité), Berlin, Germany

    Frank Buttgereit

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  1. Gregor Möckel
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  2. Frank Buttgereit
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Correspondence to Gregor Möckel.

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Möckel, G., Buttgereit, F., Labs, K. et al. Tumoral calcinosis revisited: pathophysiology and treatment. Rheumatol Int 25, 55–59 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-003-0387-z

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