Calcinosis

Calcinosis (subcutaneous or intracutaneous deposition of calcium salts) is a significant clinical problem in over 20% of patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). It is often painful (especially when calcium lumps become infected and/or ulcerate through skin) and can cause major disability, for example impairment of hand function. This short overview will discuss epidemiology (including associates), clinical features, imaging, and approach to management. Although many different treatments have been suggested on the basis of case reports and small series, at present there is no disease-modifying treatment. Therefore calcinosis is an area requiring further research. Until an effective treatment is identified, the main thrust of management is prompt treatment of any superadded infection, analgesia, multidisciplinary team input, and (in highly selected cases) surgical debulking.