title: Symptomatic spinal calcinosis in systemic sclerosis (scleroderma).
abstract: Two patients with diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis and spinal calcification, involving the lumbar spine in one and the cervical spine in the other, are described. Computed tomography-guided aspiration of the calcific masses was performed, and material aspirated from one patient was shown to be apatite, Ca5(PO4)3OH. One patient showed improvement following lumbar laminotomy, hemilaminectomy, and diskectomy.
authors.affiliation: Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston 29425-2229, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Curé
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schabel
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Schumacher
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Silver
mesh_terms: D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008161:Lumbosacral Region; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008875:Middle Aged; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000150:complications*; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed