Massive Calcification of the Myocardium

Abstract

A case of dystrophic calcification of the myocardium is reported. The clinical, fluoroscopic, hemodynamic and angiographic findings are described, and correlate well with the lesions discovered at surgery. In this case, the diagnosis was originally suspected because of the calcification noted during fluoroscopy.

Porcelain heart: a case of massive myocardial calcification

“…''Dystrophic'' and ''metastatic'' calcifications are terms used to describe calcific deposits in abnormal and normal soft tissues, respectively. Metastatic calcification, which occurs when a derangement of calcium phosphate metabolism results in the deposition of calcium in normal tissue, such as chronic renal failure and hyperparathyroidism [3,4], and dystrophic calcification [5], which occurs in dead or degenerative tissue in the presence of normal calcium/phosphate balance, such as previous myocardial infarctions [6], ventricular aneurysm [7], endomyocardial fibrosis (EMF) [8][9][10][11][12], myocarditis, myocardial abscess [13], tuberculosis [14], irradiation [15] and rare cardiac tumors [16].…”