Early disappearance of calcification in posterior paraspinal muscles in a patient with rhabdomyolysis associated with neuroleptic malignant syndrome

Abstract

We report computed tomography (CT) findings that demonstrated early disappearance of ectopic calcification in the bilateral posterior paraspinal muscles in a patient with rhabdomyolysis. A 37-year-old man with acute renal failure due to rhabdomyolysis caused by neuroleptic malignant syndrome underwent studies with CT and bone scintigraphy. First, bone scintigraphy showed high radiotracer uptake in bilateral posterior paraspinal muscles; then CT demonstrated ectopic calcification in those muscles. After 2.5 months, CT showed that the calcification had completely disappeared. Bone scintigraphy anticipated calcification, and CT demonstrated a unique course of early disappearance of the calcification.

Reversible Myocardial Calcification Following Severe Leptospirosis Complicated With Rhabdomyolysis-Induced Acute Kidney Injury and Magnesium-Wasting Nephropathy

“…Metastatic calcification is seen in patients on chronic hemodialysis for chronic renal failure, whereas causes of dystrophic calcification include, for example, myocardial calcification after myocardial infarction or myocarditis. In rhabdomyolysis-induced AKI, temporary ectopic calcification in affected skeletal muscles is common and it can decrease or even disappear within few months [1][2][3]. Biphasic calcemic pattern observed here, with hypocalcemia in the oliguric phase followed by hypercalcemia during the recovery diuretic phase is characteristic for rhabdomyolysis-associated AKI.…”