Tumoral calcinosis. Observations during six years

Findings of a 56 year old woman suffering from tumoral calcinosis, who was treated for 6 years, are presented. Under conditions known to lead to negative calcium-phosphorus balance, a reduction in tumor size was seen. Transient hypercalcemia was attributed to immobilization. The process of tumor reduction was not definitely accelerated by treatment with ethane-hydroxy-diphosphonate (EHDP; 500 mg/day for 20 months). Nephrotic syndrome as a consequence of amyloidosis developed. Amyloidosis seems to have resulted from the aseptic histiocytic inflammatory process in the tumors. The possible importance of high cholesterol in very low density lipoproteins in the serum of the patient is discussed.