Diffuse Calcinosis in a Patient with Dermatomyositis: A Case Report

Dermatomyositis is a chronic inflammatory myopathy that may present with cutaneous manifestations, dystrophic calcifications, and occasionally be associated with a paraneoplastic syndrome. We report the case of a 54-year-old woman followed for dermatomyositis, who presented with diffuse calcinosis during an oncologic extension workup. Thoraco-abdominopelvic CT revealed extensive calcifications in the subcutaneous and supra-aponeurotic soft tissues, without suspicious parenchymal lesions or deep lymphadenopathy. A nodular uterine calcification and a nodular thyroid gland were also observed. The absence of suspicious bone lesions or peritoneal effusion helped rule out progressive neoplastic involvement. We discuss the clinical and radiological features of dystrophic calcinosis associated with dermatomyositis and its potential link to neoplastic syndromes. This case is noteworthy for the massive extent of the calcifications, their unusual distribution, and their paraneoplastic context.