Morbus Teutschländer – a massive soft-tissue calcification of the foot in a patient on long-term hemodialysis

Abstract.

Morbus Teutschländer is a benign metabolic disorder involving soft-tissue masses near large joints and a rarely observed form of extraskeletal calcifications. For example, it is seen in patients with chronic renal failure, but in most cases it remains clinically silent. In a minority of patients, this soft-tissue calcification is responsible for complications. Various locations of calcium deposits have been characterized. Advanced age and increased calcium × phosphate product are some of the underlying reasons, but local factors are involved as well. Prevention should be preferred because the treatment is generally difficult. We describe the case of a morbus Teutschländer in a 58-year-old woman with chronic renal failure on hemodialysis presenting with a massive soft-tissue calcification of the foot with a compression of a cutaneous nerve secondary due to uremic tumoral calcinosis. The tumoral masses was successfully excised, and at the 1-year follow-up, the patient had no discomfort. Clinical and radiological features and treatment are discussed, and a review of soft-tissue calcifications is given.