Complete reversal of tumoral calcinosis after subtotal parathyroidectomy in a hemodialysis patient.
BACKGROUND
Tumoral calcinosis is a rare complication of chronic hemodialysis whose mechanism is incompletely understood. The treatment is challenging and should target the main precipitating factors, most notably secondary hyperparathyroidism and calcium-phosphate (Ca x P) product elevation.


METHODS
In this 41-year-old patient, tumoral calcinosis developed in the right hip and subacromial bursa of the right shoulder after 3 years of chronic hemodialysis. Laboratory tests showed hyperparathyroidism with Ca x P elevation. Subtotal parathyroidectomy was performed. Eight months later, there was no evidence of tumoral calcinosis at either of the previously affected sites.


CONCLUSIONS
The effectiveness of parathyroidectomy in our patient underlies the key role played by secondary hyperparathyroidism in the pathogenesis of tumoral calcinosis complicating hemodialysis.
Younes
Mohamed
M
Service de Rhumatologie Hôpital Fattouma Bourguiba de Monastir, Monastir 5000, Tunisie. mohamed_youn@yahoo.fr
Belghali
Safa
S
Zrour-Hassen
Saoussen
S
Béjia
Ismail
I
Touzi
Mongi
M
Bergaoui
Naceur
N
D000328:Adult; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D006962:Hyperparathyroidism, Secondary / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D016105:Parathyroidectomy; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000473:pathology*