title: Facial subcutaneous calcinosis and mandibular resorption in systemic sclerosis: a case report.
abstract: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease characterized by widespread fibrosis of subcutaneous connective tissue, causing serious complications with the involvement of other systems. Tight, firm skin is the main characteristic of SSc, causing extrinsic pressure and the obliteration of the vessels. This then leads to ischaemia and destruction of the underlying bone. This mechanism may also lead to bone resorption of the mandibular body as it affects other bones of the skeleton. To date, only two cases of reported calcinosis in the facial area have been observed. In this report, a rare case of SSc with both subcutaneous calcinosis and mandibular bone resorption is presented. The role of dental practitioners in the diagnosis of the disease with respect to the orofacial symptoms is also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Ege University School of Dentistry, Department of Oral Diagnosis and Radiology, Bornova, Izmir 35100, Turkey. esinalpz@yahoo.com
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Alpöz
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cankaya
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Güneri
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001862:Bone Resorption / Q000209:etiology*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D005145:Face; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008336:Mandibular Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000150:complications*; D040521:Subcutaneous Tissue / Q000473:pathology