title: Intraosseous secondary calcium salt crystal deposition: an artefact of acid decalcification.
abstract: We previously observed, in decalcificated bone specimens, intraosseous crystal deposits with morphological and analytical similarity to calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate. We have now been able, by a combination of more detailed morphological studies of these and similar cases, and by infrared spectroscopy in three cases, to show that this is, in fact deposition of the secondary calcium salts brushite and monetite, occurring as an artefact during formic acid decalcification. Our earlier postulate of bone as an additional primary crystallization site for calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate is effectively disproved. This artefact deserves wider recognition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Histopathology, UMDS Guy's Campus, London, UK.
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Keen
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Crocker
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Brady
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Buk
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Levison
mesh_terms: D016477:Artifacts; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002130:Calcium Phosphates / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D002805:Chondrocalcinosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D003460:Crystallization; D006801:Humans; D013057:Spectrum Analysis
chemical_list: D002130:Calcium Phosphates; C485828:alpha-tricalcium phosphate; C485830:tetracalcium phosphate; C485838:calcium phosphate, monobasic, anhydrous; C020243:calcium phosphate; C485829:calcium phosphate, dibasic, anhydrous; C494366:calcium phosphate, dibasic, dihydrate