HEAD AND NECK MANIFESTATIONS OF TUMORAL CALCINOSIS

Intraoral facial and laryngeal features of tumoral calcinosis are revi ewed in six patients of Jewish-Yemenite descent. Extraoral features in cluded calcified masses, erythematous patches, and angular cheilitis. Oral soft tissue findings included papillary hyperplasia of the lip ve rmilion and velvety-red macules on the tongue, palate, and buccal muco sa. Gingival findings included advanced periodontitis and an erythemat ous marginal gingivitis. In all patients, orthognathic evaluation reve aled a concave profile, retruded maxilla, and relative mandibular prog nathism. Although previously reported clinical dental abnormalities we re not present, extracted teeth demonstrated abnormal dentin. Hoarsene ss was present in all patients and was the earliest appearing feature in two patients. The appearance of these head and neck findings preced ed the classical manifestations of tumoral calcinosis and may be helpf ul in the early diagnosis of this entity. The varied reported features of tumoral calcinosis support the notion that this disease may presen t multiple formes frustes with variable clinical expressivity.