eMedicine Specialties > Dermatology > Metabolic Diseases

Calcinosis Cutis: Follow-up

Author: Julia R Nunley, MD, Professor, Program Director, Dermatology Residency, Department of Dermatology, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center
Coauthor(s): Lydia M E Jones, MD, Staff Physician, Department of Dermatology, Virginia Commonwealth University
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Jan 27, 2009

Follow-up

Deterrence/Prevention

  • Prevention or treatment of the underlying disease process, as well as prevention of trauma and factors associated with iatrogenic calcinosis, is optimal.

Complications

  • Complications of calcinosis cutis include pain, cosmetic disfigurement, ulceration, and mechanical compromise.
  • The plaques or nodules may impinge on adjacent structures such as joints, resulting in restricted mobility, and nerves, resulting in pain or paresthesia.
  • Destruction of synovial tissue also may result.
  • Vascular occlusion may result in gangrene.
  • Ulceration may be complicated by bacterial infection.

Prognosis

  • The prognosis is determined by that of any underlying disease.
  • Calcinosis cutis alone usually is benign.
  • Severe complications are infrequent.

Patient Education

  • Patients should be educated about the underlying disease processes and natural history of their specific disorder.
 


More on Calcinosis Cutis

Overview: Calcinosis Cutis
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Calcinosis Cutis
Treatment & Medication: Calcinosis Cutis
Follow-up: Calcinosis Cutis
Multimedia: Calcinosis Cutis
References
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References

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Further Reading

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Keywords

cutaneous calcinosis, cutaneous calculi

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Julia R Nunley, MD, Professor, Program Director, Dermatology Residency, Department of Dermatology, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center
Julia R Nunley, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American College of Physicians, American Society of Nephrology, International Society of Nephrology, Medical Dermatology Society, Medical Society of Virginia, National Kidney Foundation, Phi Beta Kappa, and Women's Dermatologic Society
Disclosure: Johnson and Johnson stock holder dividends; Amgen stock holder dividends; Forest Lab, Inc stock holder dividends; Galaxo Smith Klein stock holder dividends; Covidien stock holder dividends; Novartis Grant/research funds Consulting; Biolex  sub-investigator

Coauthor(s)

Lydia M E Jones, MD, Staff Physician, Department of Dermatology, Virginia Commonwealth University
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

James W Patterson, MD, Director of Dermatopathology, Professor of Pathology and Dermatology, Departments of Pathology and Dermatology, University of Virginia Medical Center
James W Patterson, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American College of Physicians, American Medical Association, American Society of Dermatopathology, Medical Society of Virginia, Royal Society of Medicine, Society for Investigative Dermatology, and United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Richard P Vinson, MD, Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Dermatology, Texas Tech University School of Medicine; Consulting Staff, Mountain View Dermatology, PA
Richard P Vinson, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, Association of Military Dermatologists, Texas Dermatological Society, and Texas Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

Rosalie Elenitsas, MD, Herman Beerman Associate Professor of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine; Director, Penn Cutaneous Pathology Services, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Health System
Rosalie Elenitsas, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology and American Society of Dermatopathology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Catherine Quirk, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, Brown University
Catherine Quirk, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha and American Academy of Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

William D James, MD, Paul R Gross Professor of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine; Vice-Chair, Program Director, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Health System
William D James, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology and Society for Investigative Dermatology
Disclosure: elsevier Royalty Other; american college of physicians Honoraria Other

 
 
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