What does plexiform calcification mean in medicine?

Calcification is described by ultrasound imaging, and calcified lesions are calcium deposits in the breast detected by X-ray. There are calcified lesions of different sizes in the breast: coarse calcified lesions are often benign lesions of the breast, such as internal mammary artery aging, old injury, inflammation, etc., and generally no further biopsy is needed. Fine calcifications are usually located in the areas where cells grow and divide rapidly. If there are many small calcifications in the local area, it suggests that there may be small breast cancer lesions. Half of the breast cancers discovered by X-rays show clusters of tiny calcifications in the breast.

There are three main factors in the formation of calcification, one is the product of metabolism, the other is the trace of infection and inflammation, and the third is the tissue change caused by inflammatory reaction during the development of tumor. Basically, calcification is mostly asymptomatic, and it is often old when it is discovered.

It is worth noting that some calcification is a benign phenomenon, and patients don't have to take it to heart; But there are also many calcifications that are symptoms of some chronic or acute diseases, so don't be careless. The following outlines the various calcifications that may occur in the body:

First, chest calcification:

Aortic valve calcification-common in patients with aortic stenosis, can be easily found by chest X-ray lateral film and computed tomography; Another kind of aortic arch calcification is more common in the elderly and belongs to benign physiological changes.

Coronary artery calcification-can also be seen from lateral chest radiographs, usually coronary atherosclerotic lesions, which may cause myocardial infarction at any time. In this case, the patient should be further examined by cardiac catheterization, and if there is vascular obstruction, balloon dilatation can be given at the same time.

The calcification of the lung, especially the calcification at the tip of the lung, is mostly caused by old tuberculosis, but it must be carefully interpreted by trained specialists to rule out whether there are new lesions, which must not be ignored. If calcification is found in the lungs, other reasons such as metastatic cancer (possibly from bone, cartilage, gastrointestinal tract, etc.). ), chicken pox pneumonia, fungal infection and so on must be considered.

As for pleural calcification, it is common in asbestosis, which is an occupational disease related to asbestos. In addition, if eggshell calcification of lung lymph nodes is found, it should be another occupational disease related to silicon.

Second, breast calcification:

The early manifestations of breast cancer may only be sporadic calcification. Under the ultrasound scanning of breast, only twinkling starlight will appear, which requires experienced doctors or inspectors to interpret. If you use mammography, it is not difficult to clearly see tiny calcification points.

Third, abdominal calcification:

Abdominal calcification is related to some acute and chronic diseases, including liver tumors, gallstones, pancreatitis, kidney calculi's disease, appendix stones and other diseases. The following are common diseases:

Calcification point of liver: There are many factors, including inflammation caused by body infection, such as tuberculosis and parasitic diseases; In addition, if the liver is stunted, calculus in the intrahepatic bile duct may also form calcification points. In addition, if a few tumors (such as colorectal cancer) metastasize to the liver, sometimes calcification will form inside the tumor. If this is an abnormal situation, it is not difficult for experienced specialists to interpret it.

Calcification of renal cortex: mostly caused by infection or tumor, such as chronic pyelonephritis, tuberculosis, chronic glomerulonephritis, renal tumor, or simple cyst.

Renal medullary calcification: The most common cause is kidney calculi, and the rare causes are renal papillary calcification, renal tubular acidemia and medullary sponge kidney.

Fecal calculus: caused by long-term constipation or defecation, it is common in the appendix and can cause chronic or acute inflammation.

Fourth, pelvic calcification:

In addition to vascular calcification, it may also be bladder stones, or the most serious urinary tract obstructive stones. In addition, women should consider the possibility of uterine fibroids, and men should pay attention to prostatitis or prostate cancer.

Five, limb bone calcification:

The attack of gout is quite shocking, which is caused by the deposition of uric acid crystals in joint cavity fluid. If the condition is serious, calcification can be seen in the joint cavity fluid of the patient through X-ray photography of limbs. Another kind of pseudogout (CPPD) is arthritis caused by calcification of articular cartilage, which can also be seen in X-rays. These two calcifications do not appear in patients with degenerative arthritis.