Dystrophic Calcified Mass Found in the Semimembranosus Muscle in a Cadaver: A Case Report

Abstract

Most of the soft tissue calcified mass formations are sporadic incidences that occur in an idiopathic form. Ectopic calcification changes were seen in various soft tissues beyond the skeleton. They are often asymptomatic masses located in the superficial or deeper aspect of the body, but may not be related to the bone directly. Increased levels of serum calcium, phosphate, or Vitamin D hypervitaminosis may be associated with the calcification process, causing mass accretion in the tissues like bones of limbs, and cranium, or showing some dental abnormalities. During the routine dissection of the hamstring compartment of the left lower limb in a male cadaver aged around 70 years in the Department of Anatomy, we noticed nodular fragments and lengthy slender pieces, which were hard in consistency and bony in its appearance found within the semimembranosus muscle. The histopathology of these masses was revealed as “Dystrophic Calcified Masses”. A holistic description of calcification changes in the soft tissues will be considered in the article. Keywords: calcification, dystrophy, hypervitaminosis