calcified pulmonary metastases

Calcifying pulmonary metastases are rare. These should not be confused with metastatic pulmonary calcification.

Pathology

Calcification in metastases can arise through a variety of mechanisms: bone formation in tumors osteoid origin, calcification and ossification of tumor cartilage, dystrophic calcification and ossification of tumor cartilage, dystrophic calcification and mucoid calcification.

A number of primary malignancies can potentially cause calcification. The reported spectrum includes metastatic nodules from :

• sarcomas
  • osteosarcoma
  • chondrosarcoma
  • synovial sarcoma
• mucinous type carcinomas
  • carcinomas of the colon
  • ovarian cancers
  • breast cancer
• thyroid cancer 
  • medullary thyroid carcinoma
• treated metastatic choriocarcinoma
• giant cell tumor of the bone

A useful mnemonic to remember the various causes can be found here.

See also

• calcific pulmonary nodules
• ossifying pulmonary metastases

Siehe auch:

• verkalkte Lungenherde
• Sarkoidose
• Multiples Myelom
• differential diagnosis of calcified pulmonary densities
• pulmonale Calciphylaxie
• pulmonale Verkalkungen
• Osteosarkommetastasen

und weiter:

• verkalkte Metastasen
• pulmonales Granulom
• Lungenmetastasen bei Osteosarkom