Calcinosis cutis in chronic renal failure diagnosed by fine needle aspiration. A case report.
BACKGROUND
Deposition of calcium salts in the skin and subcutis, referred to as calcinosis cutis, is a common complication in patients with end-stage renal disease. The lesion can present as a mass and is amenable to fine needle aspiration (FNA).


METHODS
A 48-year-old man undergoing hemodialysis following a failed renal transplant presented with a 1.5-cm neck nodule. A diagnosis of calcinosis cutis was made following FNA, which obtained semiliquid, chalky material.


CONCLUSIONS
In cytologic preparations, deposits of calcium salts can be both amorphous and refractile on Diff-Quik and Papanicolaou stain. However, the material may not be birefringent with these stains. Alizarin red S stain for calcium will permit demonstration of the characteristic birefringence.
Reed
Maria A B
MA
Division of Cytopathology, Department of Pathology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
de Luna
Arlene M
AM
Holaysan
Jerome S
JS
Gerardo
Leopoldo T
LT
D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology*; D013194:Staining and Labeling