1. Calciphylaxis: Comparison of radiologic imaging and histopathology.
- Author
-
Halasz CL, Munger DP, Frimmer H, Dicorato M, and Wainwright S
- Subjects
- Adult, Aged, Calciphylaxis complications, Female, Humans, Male, Mammography, Middle Aged, Retrospective Studies, Skin Diseases etiology, Tomography, X-Ray Computed, Arterioles diagnostic imaging, Arterioles pathology, Calciphylaxis diagnostic imaging, Calciphylaxis pathology
- Abstract
Background: The current gold standard for diagnosis of calciphylaxis is a skin biopsy specimen demonstrating calcification of small-caliber arteries or arterioles., Objective: The aim of this study is to compare diameters of calcified vessels seen in skin biopsy specimens and radiology images of patients with calciphylaxis., Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of patients with known calciphylaxis from 2009 to 2016 at a community hospital who had both skin biopsy specimens and radiology images taken as part of their routine care. Vascular calcification was compared in skin biopsy specimens and radiology images., Results: Seven patients were identified. Small-vessel calcification as fine as 0.1 to 0.3 mm was identified on plain films in 3 patients; 0.1 to 0.2 mm by mammography in 3 patients, and 0.1 to 0.2 mm by computed tomography imaging in 1 patient, nearly as fine a resolution as on histopathology., Limitations: This was a single-center study with limited sample size., Conclusion: Radiologic imaging might enable more rapid diagnosis of calciphylaxis when skin biopsy specimen is pending or not available., (Copyright © 2017 American Academy of Dermatology, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2017
- Full Text
- View/download PDF