PROGRESSIVE OSSEOUS HETEROPLASIA, UNCOMMON CAUSE OF SOFT-TISSUE OSSIFICATION - A CASE-REPORT AND REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

We report a case of an uncommon, recently described disease manifestin g shortly after birth, characterized by extensive soft tissue calcific ation with ossification, progressive osseous heteroplasia. We describe the complex histopathologic patterns present in this case, discuss th e main differential diagnoses that the surgical pathologist must consi der when confronted by soft tissue ossification, and review the pertin ent literature. We conclude that although the morphologic patterns of ossification in progressive osseous heteroplasia are complex and the i nvolvement is extensive, the morphology of the lesions lacks diagnosti c specificity. The diagnosis must be based on a consideration of the c ombined clinical data and radiologic and pathologic findings. This app roach alone makes it possible to exclude a number of clinicopathologic entities that manifest with so-called osteoma cutis but whose associa ted lesions and genetic implications are different.