Relapsing Calciphylaxis of the Breast: Glucocorticoids - Friend or Foe?

Calciphylaxis is a rare life-threatening condition characterised by systemic medial calcification of arterioles causing tissue ischemia with subsequent necrosis. Calciphylaxis occur in areas of increased adiposity like abdomen, proximal extremities, buttocks and breast. We report an elderly lady with end-stage kidney disease who presented with severe mastalgia with breast nodules and overlying skin changes. Calciphylaxis was diagnosed based on clinical, mammography and histo-pathological findings. Poor response to standard conservative management prompted us to use glucocorticoids showing dramatic improvement. She had a relapse after 3 months necessitating glucocorticoids again. We report the use of glucocorticoids as an option in recalcitrant, recurrent breast calciphylaxis.