Ch.16 - Recognizing Abnormal Calcifications and Their Causes Flashcards
Rimlike calcifications imply what?
Calcification that has occurred in the wall of a HOLLOW viscus.
Examples of rimlike calcifications:
- Cysts.
- Aneurysms.
- Saccular organs such as the gallbladder.
Linear or tracklike calcifications imply:
Calcification that has occurred in the walls of TUBULAR structures.
Examples of tracklike calcifications include:
Walls of arteries and tubular structures such as ureters, Fallopian tubes, and vas deferens.
Lamellar (or laminar) calcifications imply:
Calcification that forms around a nidus inside a hollow lumen.
Examples of lamellar calcifications include:
- Renal calculi.
- Gallstones.
- Bladder stones.
Cloudlike, amorphous, or popcorn calcification:
Calcification that has formed inside of a solid organ or tumor.
Examples of amorphous or popcorn calcifications include:
- Calcifications in the pancreas.
- Leiomyomas of the uterus.
- Lymph nodes.
- Mucin-producing adenocarcinomas.
- Dystrophic soft-tissue calcifications.
Rimlike calcifications - Renal cyst - Remarks:
Thick and irregular calcifications, though uncommon, may indicate the presence of RCC.
Rimlike calcifications - Splenic cysts - Remarks:
May be a manifestation of hydatid cyst, old trauma, or prior infection.
Rimlike calcifications - Aortic aneurysms - Remarks:
Occurs more often in diabetics with advanced atherosclerosis.
Rimlike calcifications - Gallbladder - Remarks:
Associated with chronic stasis –> Called porcelain bladder for its gross appearance.
Linear or tracklike calcification - Walls of smaller arteries - Remarks:
Mostly seen in atherosclerosis accelerated by diabetes and renal disease.
Linear or tracklike calcification - Fallopian tubes or vas deferens - Remarks:
Usually accelerated by diabetes.
Linear or tracklike calcifications - Ureters - Remarks:
Uncommon occurrence described with schistosomiasis and rarely TB.
Laminar or lamellated calcifications - Kidney - Remarks:
Most calcified renal stones are composed of calcium oxalate crystals. Mostly form due to stasis or infection.
Laminar or lamellated calcifications - Gallbladder - Remarks:
Most calcified gallstones are calcium bilirubinate - They form due to chronic infection and stasis.
Laminar or lamellated calcifications - Urinary bladder - Remarks:
Most bladder calculi contain urate crystals - They form most often from outlet obstruction.
Study of choice in diagnosing uterine fibroids:
US.
Amorphous, cloudlike, or popcorn calcifications - Pancreas - Remarks:
Chronic pancreatitis - Frequently 2o to alcoholism.
Amorphous, cloudlike, or popcorn calcifications - Uterine fibroids (leiomyomas) - Remarks:
Degenerating fibroids calcify.
Amorphous, cloudlike, or popcorn calcifications - Mucin-producing tumors - Remarks:
Mucin-producing tumors of the ovary, stomach, or colon may calcify as can their metastases.
Amorphous, cloudlike, or popcorn calcifications - Meningioma - Remarks:
Benign, extra-axial brain tumor of older individuals that calcifies about 20% of the time.
RUQ - Rimlike:
Gallbladder wall - Chronic infection.
RUQ - Tracklike:
Hepatic artery - Atherosclerosis.
RUQ - Laminated:
Gallbladder - Gallstones.