Dystrophic vs. Metastatic Calcification, Microscopically

[username456789]

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I know what the differing etiologies are of these two types of necrosis, but how can you discern between the two, microscopically, with no additional information (patient history) given?

 

[Captain Fantastic]

Good question. Robbin's says that morphologically the calcium salts in metastatic calcification resemble those in dystrophic calcification so I think this is going to be tough to call with just the slide.

 

[Inuranic]

Yeah, I don't think there's any way to do that without additional information.

 

[KeyzerSoze]

Correlate clinically...

 

[Ableton]

Correlate clinically...

Yep. There would have to be some other indication which would allow you to identify the type of calcification (e.g. a pathologic diagnosis, or even just serum calcium levels if they want to take it easy on you).

 

[bcwbcw]

What about Psammomma bodies?