CASE AND RESEARCH LETTERS Ultrasound Diagnosis of Calcified Skin Deposits

Calcified deposits in the skin are rare. When they are formed of mature bone with the presence of trabeculae they are called ossification, whereas deposits of amorphous material are called calcification. The presence of calcium on histology is diagnostic, though this can be difficult in some cases. Ultrasound is a rapid, noninvasive technique that provides in vivo information that can be very useful for the study of these lesions. We present the case of a 71-year-old woman whose relevant past history included systemic lupus, kidney failure, and secondary hyperparathyroidism. She was on long-term treatment with risendronate, torasemide, allopurinol, and prednisone. She was seen for painful lesions that had arisen on her legs 4 months earlier. On physical examination, both legs were indurated and presented hyperpigmentation (Fig. 1A) with hard,