Pathologic Calcification

Question 1

What is pathologic calcification?

Answer 1

This is the abnormal tissue deposit of calcium together with lesser deposits of iron, magnesium and other minerals.

Question 2

Pathologic calcification is Aka??

Answer 2

Heterotrophic calcification.

Question 3

What are the two types of pathologic calcification?

Answer 3

Dystrophic
Metastatic

Question 4

What is dystrophic calc?

Answer 4

Deposition of calcium in dead or degenerative tissue with normal calcium metab and normal serum calcium levels.

Question 5

Dystrophic calc is a tell tale sign for previous injury.

T/F

Answer 5

True.

Question 6

What is the mechanism of dystrophic calc?

Question 7

With haematoxyilin and eosin, calcium appears as?

Answer 7

Basophilic amorphous sometimes clumped materials.

Question 8

Calcium is confirmed by special stains like?

Answer 8

Von kossa, Alizarlin Red.

Question 9

The iron deposit is stained blue by?

Answer 9

Pearls prussian blue

Question 10

The two phases of dystrophic calc include?

Answer 10

Initiation
Propagation

Question 11

What happens in initiation phase?

Answer 11

Accumulation of calcium phosphate intracellularly in mitochondria and extracellularly in membrane bound vesicles.

Question 12

Why does calcium accumulate in the vesicles?

Answer 12

Because of their affinity to phospholipids.

Question 13

Why does phosphate accumulate in the vesicles?

Answer 13

Because of the action of phosphatase.

Question 14

Propagation depends on what?

Answer 14

Concentration of calcium and phosphate ions

Presence of mineral inhibitors

Degree of collagenisation

Question 15

Collagen and osteopontin enhances the rate of growth of crystals.

T/F

Answer 15

True.

Question 16

What are the examples of calcification in dead tissues?

Answer 16

Liquefactious necrosis in chronic abscess.

Infarcts in organs can be calcified.

Hematoma in the vicinity of bone.

Thrombi especially in veins producing phleboliths.

Question 17

Examples of calcification in degenerative tissue include?

Answer 17

Dense old scar after hyaline degeneration can be calcified.

Atheroma in aorta and coronary vessels can be calcified.

Stroma of tumour can show calcification.

Question 18

What is metastatic calcification?

Answer 18

Calcification occurring in normal tissues due to hypercalcaemia

Question 19

Hypercalaemia results from what?

Answer 19

Excessive absorption from gut.

Excessive mobilisation of calcium from bone.

Question 20

Causes of excessive mobilisation of calcium from bone include?

Answer 20

Hyperthyroidism

Bone destructive tumors like multiple myeloma, leukemia

Prolonged immobilisation of pt leading to atrophy of bone.

Question 21

Causes of excessive absorption of calcium from the gut include?

Answer 21

Vitamin related disorders like hypervitaminosis D, sarcoidosis

Aluminium intoxication from pts with chronic dialysis.

Milk alkali syndrome where there’s excessive ingestion of calcium and absorbable antacids

Question 22

Metastatic calcification principally affects which tissues?

Answer 22

Intestinal tissues of gastric mucosa.

Kidneys, lungs, systemic arteries and pulmonary veins.

Question 23

What are the clinical correlations of metastatic calc?

Answer 23

Nephrocalcinosis in kidney.

Calcinosis cutis in skin Subcutaneous tissues.

Respiratory insufficiency