title: Systemic scleroderma and perforating granuloma annulare: differential diagnosis from calcinosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Systemic scleroderma is a disorder of unknown etiology with skin sclerosis. Its major histological features are swollen and homogenized collagen bundles.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We describe 2 patients with systemic sclerosis who have multiple umbilicated nodules indistinguishable from calcinosis cutis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Histological examinations including Von Kossa staining revealed features of perforating granuloma annulare, but not of calcinosis cutis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The association may not be fortuitous but both diseases may be etiologically related.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tajima
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Inazumi
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mori
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers; D016460:Granuloma Annulare / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology