Treatment of Calcinosis Cutis: Cases and Review

Oh, Deuk Young; Rhie, Jong Won; Byeon, Jun Hee; Kim, Sun Ok

Abstract

Despite the careful regulation of serum calcium, calcification of cutaneous and subcutaneous tissues may occur. Calcification is the deposition of insoluble calcium salts; when it occurs in cutaneous tissues, it is known as calcinosis cutis. Calcinosis cutis is classified into four types: metastatic calcinosis cutis, dystrophic calcinosis cutis, idiopathic calcinosis cutis, and subepidermal calcified nodule. From January 2000 to May 2001, we have experienced 3 patients with calcinosis cutis. Two cases were dystrophic calcinosis cutis associated with radiation therapy and old burn scar with complications of delayed wound healing after punch biopsy, despite of conservative treatment for several weeks. Another was idiopathic calcinosis cutis. We performed surgical treatments in all cases: wide excision and pectoralis major muscle rotational flap coverage, wide excision and split-thickness skin graft, and excision and direct closure. No patients experienced wound healing problems. We believed surgical excision and appropriate reconstruction procedure is an effective theraphy in localized or ulcerated and chronic infected calcinosis cutis.