[Myositis ossificans generalisata or calcinosis interstitialis universalis, a difficult differential diagnosis]

Palpable indurations, calcified nodules, osseous plates and clasps in shoulder, upper arms, thighs and in the back and pelvis muscles are typical signs for several progressive diseases or are associates with some systemic diseases of youth. These changes imply greatly decreased range of motion of all limb joints and increasing retardation of growth and development and often lead to early death. Although often described, the etiology of these diseases is not known. We observed some years ago a particularly serious case, where the connective tissue of almost all the muscles of the skeleton, the subcutis and the ligaments of the limb joints were penetrated by amorphous calcifications and moreover ectopic ossifications were seen in the perirenal adipose tissue and in the interstitial adipose and connective tissue of the striped muscles. Ossifications and calcifications respectively are typical for different diseases, and therefore in our described case it was difficult to decide for a definitive diagnosis.