Calcification is soft tissues i.e. heterotopic ossification
1. Dystrophic calcification
- Degenerated, diseased, dead tissue
- Normal calcium and phosphate levels
- Localized to site of injury (trauma, infection, inflammation) eg. cysticercosis parasite
a. Chronically inflamed cysts – eg. Residual cyst
b. Calcified lymph nodes
- Cervical tuberculosis adenitis
- Sarcoidosis
- Cat scratch disease
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Systemic sclerosis
- Fungal infection
- Metastasis from calcifying neoplasm
- Lymphoma treatment with radiology
c. Tonsillar calculi (tonsilloliths)
- Repeated inflammation enlarges tonsillar crypts
- Incomplete resolution of organic debris (bacteria, pus, epithelial cells, food) – nidus for calcification
d. Arterial calcifications: Arteriosclerosis – calcium deposits (atheromatous plaque) in medial coat of vessel
2. Idiopathic calcification (calcinosis)
- Deposit calcium in normal tissues
- Normal calcium and phosphate levels
a. Chondrocalcinosis: Calcium phosphate crystals build up in joints – irritation – inflammation – cartilage damage
b. Sialoliths
c. Phleboliths – intravascular thrombi form due to venous stagnation – mineralize
d. Rhinoliths
e. Antroliths
3. Metastatic calcification
- Minerals precipitate into normal tissues due to higher than normal calcium levels
- Bilateral and symmetrical
a. Ossification of stylohyoid ligament
- Classic eagle syndrome – cranial nerve impingement
- Carotid artery syndrome – impingement of carotid vessels
b. Osteoma cutis: In skin, acne of long duration, in a scar, chronic inflammatory dermatosis
c. Myositis ossificans
- Fibrous tissue and heterotrophic bone form in muscles interstitial tissues, tendons and ligaments
- 1. Localized MO – acute/chronic trauma, heavy muscular strain, in occupation or sports, muscle injury from multiple injections (dental LA)
- 2. Progressive MO – AD, rare, early infancy, males
- High calcium levels: Hyperparathyroidism, hypercalcemia, malignancy
- High phosphate levels: Chronic liver failure
DentMistry 