Korean J Dermatol.  2008 Jun;46(6):839-841.

A Case of Dystrophic Calcinosis Cutis Following the Acupuncture in a Herb Clinic

• Hwang SW
• Cho KJ
• Hong SK
• Seo JK
• Lee D
• Sung HS

Abstract

Accumulation of calcium in the skin is usually classified as a group of disorders referred to as calcinosis cutis. Based on pathophysiologic mechanisms, it has been classified as metastatic, dystrophic, idiopathinic and iatrogenic calcinosis cutis. Local tissue injury due to repetitive trauma by an acupuncture needle can cause dystrophic calcinosis cutis. A 61-year-old woman developed hyperpigmented pea sized subcutaneous nodules on the right side of her lower abdomen. She had received several sessions of acupuncture treatments on the right abdomen in a herb medicine clinic. A biopsy specimen showed amorphous basophilic deposits in the dermis and serum levels of calcium, phosphate were within the normal range. We report a case of dystrophic calcinosis cutis following acupuncture treatments by a herb medicine doctor.

Keyword

Acupuncture; Calcinosis cutis

MeSH Terms

Abdomen
Acupuncture
Basophils
Biopsy
Calcinosis
Calcium
Dermis
Female
Humans
Middle Aged
Needles
Peas
Reference Values
Skin
Calcium