Characterizing calcinosis cutis in a pediatric population.

BACKGROUND/

OBJECTIVES

Calcinosis cutis is the abnormal deposition of calcium in the skin and subcutis. There is currently a paucity of data surrounding pediatric calcinosis cutis. The objective of this study is to characterize calcinosis cutis in a pediatric cohort.

METHODS

A single-institution retrospective cohort study was performed over a 5.5-year period.

RESULTS

Thirty cases were identified. Calcinosis cutis was found to be more common in men (63%), with a younger median age of onset (5 years) compared to women (10 years). Dystrophic calcinosis cutis (43%) was the most common type in the study population, though idiopathic calcinosis cutis (37%) was nearly as common. No cases of metastatic calcinosis cutis were found.

CONCLUSIONS

The etiology of calcinosis cutis in the study population was found to be similar to that identified in adults with the exception of metastatic calcinosis cutis, which was not seen in our cohort. Previous recommendations using laboratory testing to diagnose this disease process might not be as critical as previously thought.