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Clinical presentation:
20 year old male with decreasing mobility and a short first metacarpal on both hands.

The view shows soft tissue ossification in a para-spinal location, but without ossification of the collateral ligaments of the intervertebral joints. The thick strands of bone can be seen in the locations of psoas and latissimus dorsi muscles. The pedicles of the 1st and 3rd lumbar vertebrae are particularly oversize, when compared to the vertebral body. The ribs appear normal.

[Differential]

cases that might resemble this pathology

[View large image] Dermatomyositis. (case report) [View large image] Scleroderma, calcifications. (case report)
[View large image] Ankylosing spondylitis. (case report) [View large image] Fluorosis. (case report)
[View large image] There is no example of calcified 'cold abcess'. Renal tuberculosis, periureteric calcification and fibrosis. (case report) [View large image] Primary bone tumours, like Osteosarcoma (case report), are typically asymmetrical.
Radiotherapy is more likely to cause fibrosis than calcification.
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[London South Bank U.]

IDM June 2007