Calciphylaxis: An Unusual and Silent Usher for an Underlying Carcinoma

Calciphylaxis is an uncommon but serious and potentially life-threatening painful condition that is characterized by cutaneous vascular calcification and ischemia. It is typically seen in patients with end-stage renal disease but has been known to occur less commonly in patients with normal renal function. A rare but established etiology of non-uremic calciphylaxis is malignancy. We have thus far been successful in documenting an association between calciphylaxis and certain solid tumor types. The objective of this clinical case study is to better define a possible association between calciphylaxis and underlying malignancy.