Metastatic Calcinosis Cutis in the Emergency Department: A Case Report

Calcinosis cutis is a condition in which calcium-phosphate salt deposits are formed in cutaneous and subcutaneous tissue. A subtype, metastatic calcinosis cutis, can occur in patients with disorders that cause hypercalcemia or hyperphosphatemia such as end stage renal disease. We present a case of a 67-year-old man with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on dialysis who presented to the emergency department with a draining left elbow wound. On exam, he had irregular, firm nodules palpable in the subcutaneous tissue of both large and small joints. The presence of calcinosis cutis on imaging and lack of other findings suggesting infection led to outpatient wound care treatment. Recognizing the appearance of calcinosis cutis on imaging and conditions that present with calcinosis cutis is important for the emergency physician.

Calcinosis cutis, end-stage renal disease, ESRD, dialysis, subcutaneous calcifications.