Tumoral calcinosis in children, a challenging and possibly underdiagnosed condition

Tumoral calcinosis is a rare condition characterized by deposits of calcium hydroxyapatite crystals in periarticular soft tissues. Three clinical settings are possible: complication of renal dialysis, hereditary and sporadic. The condition more commonly affects adults, is rare in children and extremely uncommon in infants. A case of sporadic tumoral calcinosis of the hip is reported in a six-year-old boy for whom the diagnosis was challenging. Surgical treatment was applied because of pain and major functional impairment. A pharmacologic treatment was added for two years. After three years of follow-up, the child was completely asymptomatic and had regained full range of motion. The diagnosis of tumoral calcinosis in children remains challenging.