We present a case of multiple metastatic calcinosis surrounding the joints in a 58 year-old male, who had been on hemodialysis since 1988. He was referred to our hospital in 1995 complaining of pain in a right knee mass.
On examination, a large and elastic hard mass was palpable surrounding his right knee joint, with diffuse tenderness, and similar masses were seen surrounding other joints (bilateral shoulder, left hip, bilateral fingers). Serum calcium level was within normal range, but serum phosphorus level was high and under poor control.
In the following period, his right knee mass ruptured expelling bloody fluid. The mass showed acute inflammation clinically and on blood examination. After admission, we surgically removed as much of the mass as possible. The histopathological diagnosis was metastatic calcinosis cutis. 6 months after the operation, he had no symptoms with full range of motion (ROM) in his right knee joint.
We concluded that surgical resection is necessary for large calcinosis when it induces limitation of ROM, acute inflammation, or other complications.
