Introduction: Tumoral calcinosis is an uncommon disorder characterised by the deposition of calcium phosphate in periarticular tissues. The deposits are usually around large joints; but rarely can be found around small joints of hand and feet.

Case Report: We present the case of 13 year old female with three years history of spontaneous, progressively increasing, painful swellings along right middle finger and right heel. She was otherwise well and had normal serum calcium but elevated phosphate levels. Plain radiography demonstrated a dense lobulated cluster of calcific nodules within soft tissues consistent with a diagnosis of tumoral calcinosis. This diagnosis was confirmed on the basis of histopathological examination following surgical excision.

Conclusion: As such tumoral calcinosis is a rare entity and with such unusual presentations like in our case, it may lead to diagnostic confusion. Tumoral calcinosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of painful swellings developing in the vicinity of small joints of hand and feet.

Keywords: Tumoral calcinosis , small joints , calcium salts deposition.

Click here to read similar articles from PubMed