Severe dystrophic calcification confounded by secondary hyperparathyroidism in a patient with thyroid lymphoma and CREST syndrome

The extraskeletal calcific disorders represent a wide variety of metabolic, genetic, and autoimmune diseases causing abnormal calcium salt deposition. Sequelae resulting from calcifications can be severe, causing dermal breakdown, superinfection, and restriction of joint mobility with a significant decrease in patient quality of life. The pathophysiology and extent of extraskeletal calcification is directly dependent on the causative disease process, and therefore the determination of the etiology of extraskeletal calcification can lead to early treatment and significant reduction in comorbidities related to the underlying clinical condition. We discuss a case of extreme subcutaneous extraskeletal calcification resulting from an autoimmune inflammatory process that is confounded by secondary hyperparathyroidism.