Tumoral calcinosis in a dog with chronic renal failure : clinical communication

Abstract

A 2-year-old male German shepherd dog in poor bodily condition was evaluated for thoracic limb lameness due to a large, firm mass medial to the left cranial scapula. Radiography revealed several large cauliflower-like mineralized masses in the craniomedial left scapula musculature, pectoral region and bilaterally in the biceps tendon sheaths. Urinalysis, haematology and serum biochemistry showed that the dog was severely anaemic, hyperphosphataemic and in chronic renal failure. The dog was euthanased and a full post mortem performed. A diagnosis of chronic renal failure with secondary hyperparathyroidism was confirmed. The mineralised masses were grossly and histopathologically consistent with a diagnosis of tumoral calcinosis. Tumoral calcinosis associated with chronic renal failure that does not involve the foot pads is rarely seen.

Generalized calcinosis cutis associated with probable leptospirosis in a dog

“…Metastatic calcification has been reported to develop at calcium–phosphorus indices above 5.7 4 . However, previously reported lesions of metastatic calcification in dogs were restricted either to the foot pads 3 or periarticular soft tissues 15 rather than the generalized lesions observed in this present case.…”

“…As the skin does not have an alkaline environment, it is usually spared and metastatic calcinosis cutis is rare in dogs and cats 3 . Lesions of metastatic calcinosis cutis in animals are usually confined to the foot pads; 3,12–14 however, the formation of discrete nodular calcifying masses close to the scapula of a dog 15 and on the chin of a cat 14 has also been reported. Reduction of the calcium–phosphorus index can result in lesion resolution 12,14 .…”

Hypervitaminosis D and Metastatic Calcification in a Colony of Inbred Strain 13 Guinea Pigs, Cavia porcellus

“…2) had low serum Ca measuring 6.2 mg/dl. The calcium  phosphorus product (Ca*P), a calculation used to predict tissue mineralization in humans and other animals, 5,27 was greater than 70 for all exposed animals in this study other than for one 9-month-old guinea pig (case No. 10; Ca*P ¼ 66.9; Suppl.…”

“…25,28 A Ca*P of >70 has been used as a predictor of metastatic calcification in horses with systemic calcinosis and in dogs with renal failure. 3,27 Although measurement of the Ca*P product is not routinely used to predict metastatic calcification in guinea pigs, we found that all but 1 exposed animal (case No. 10) had a Ca*P >70.…”

“…20) and 7 females between 4 and 17 months of age (case Nos. [21][22][23][24][25][26][27]. Clinical signs exhibited by exposed and recovered animals while on the high vitamin D diet are also shown.…”