Genital calcinosis cutis: Microscopic evidence supporting a dystrophic origin

Calcinosis cutis (CC) is characterized by the deposition of calcium salts in the skin and subcutaneous tissues. CC involving the vulva or foreskin (prepuce) is uncommon. We present a 9-year-old female with vulvar CC and a 15-year-old male with preputial CC. Microscopic review of excisional specimens revealed calcification associated with follicular cysts in the vulvar case and lichen sclerosus in the preputial case, suggesting a dystrophic origin to a subset of cases of genital CC that might otherwise be classified as idiopathic. The clinical implication of these findings is the need for close histopathologic scrutiny and ongoing clinical surveillance of patients with genital CC initially deemed idiopathic.