TUMOROUS CALCINOSIS - A DISEASE OF ITS OWN

Tumorous calcinosis has been considered as a disease of its own. A sur vey of the literature shows that only its clinical and radiological ap pearances are universally agreed upon, while its epidemiology and etio logy are still under discussion. A genetic disorder, recurrent soft-ti ssue microtrauma and terminal renal failure have been put forward as c auses. All of them may lead to a localized or generalized disturbance of the calcium-phosphate metabolism, which in turn could produce tumor ous calcinosis. Therefore, tumorous calcinosis should be regarded as a rare manifestation of a metabolic disorder rather than a disease of o wn.