{"id":"ef0ce1cf-1e86-4d06-8eef-c073b9fa8cf6","slug":"intraspinal-calcinosis-mimicking-intervertebral-disc-extrusion-a-clinical-and-surgical-case-report","title":"Intraspinal calcinosis mimicking intervertebral disc extrusion: A clinical and surgical case report","authors":["Jurica Maraković","Tonko Marinović","Vjekoslav Jeleč","Domagoj Dlaka","Danko Muller","Andrea Blažević","Marina Raguž"],"abstract":"Background: Subcutaneous calcinosis is a well-recognized manifestation of systemic sclerosis that usually involves multiple pressure points and may also be found in the paraspinal or intraspinal regions. In this case, intraspinal calcinosis uniquely led to a severe neurological deficit. Case Description: A patient with severe systemic sclerosis/calcinosis exhibited left greater than right lower extremity radiculopathy attributed to intraspinal left-sided L4-L5 calcinosis. On examination, the patient exhibited bilateral positive Lasegue signs, distal lower extremity weakness (left greater than right), and bilaterally decreased Achilles responses. When the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a significant intracanalicular mass on the left side at the L4-L5 level, the patient underwent a left-sided L4-L5 decompressive laminectomy. The MRI scan 5 years later revealed no recurrence of the calcinosis, and the patient had no residual neurological deficit. Conclusions: Spinal calcinosis rarely involves the lumbar spinal canal. Here, a patient with a large left-sided L4-L5 focus of intraspinal calcinosis, mimicking a disc herniation, required a laminectomy to resect the lesion. Lumbar calcinosis should be radiologically evaluated utilizing using X-ray, MRI, and computed tomography studies to adequately document the pathology. Patients, when symptomatic, may require surgical decompression and excision of these lesions.","thumbnailUrl":"https://sni-digital-videos.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/ef0ce1cf-1e86-4d06-8eef-c073b9fa8cf6/featured/hero-1782420836757.png","publishDate":"2018-08-14T00:00:00.000Z","doi":"10.4103/sni.sni_147_18","categories":["Spine","Case Report"],"fullTextUrl":"https://surgicalneurologyint.com/api/articles/ef0ce1cf-1e86-4d06-8eef-c073b9fa8cf6/pdf"}