title: [Pulmonary metastatic calcification].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The lung is the organ most frequently involved by metastatic calcification. This condition is probably under-diagnosed, the patients usually being asymptomatic. This article summarizes the current knowledge concerning pulmonary metastatic calcification.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The pathogenesis of pulmonary metastatic calcification is not well known, but it involves phosphate-calcium balance, renal function and pH. The most frequently encountered aetiologies are hyperparathyroidism, neoplastic bony lesions, and renal failure. The definitive diagnosis is achieved by histology, radiological examinations being insensitive. The clinical manifestations are various and can include a pulmonary restrictive syndrome, diffusion abnormalities, hypoxaemia and respiratory failure. The latter can be severe and influence the prognosis adversely: 19 cases of fatal pulmonary metastatic calcification have been reported. The treatment is aetiological and symptomatic.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prognostic factors for a poor outcome of this potentially lethal condition remain to be determined. The management of asymptomatic patients is also uncertain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pulmonary metastatic calcification is a rare condition of complex pathogenesis. The clinical manifestations are varied, ranging from asymptomatic to severe, even fatal.
authors: Service des urgences, centre hospitalier universitaire Vaudois (CHUV), 1001 Lausanne, Suisse. mathieu.pasquier@chuv.ch
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Pasquier
authors: M-D
authors: MD
authors: Schaller
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Abdou
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Eckert
mesh_terms: D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed