Medical mystery--the answer.

Abstract

To the Editor: The medical mystery in the September 25 issue1 involved a 48-year-old woman who had a 30-year history of dermatomyositis treated with prednisolone and who was admitted for depression and nausea. An abdominal radiograph was obtained. The diagnosis is calcinosis universalis, shown here by the ectopic calcification (Figure 1B). This is a rare complication of dermatomyositis resulting from dystrophic calcification within the affected tissue. There was also skin pressure necrosis, as seen in Figure 1A.