Clinical Practice and Cases in Emergency Medicine (Aug 2020)
Point-of-care Ultrasound in the Diagnosis of Calciphylaxis
Abstract
Case Presentation: A 63-year-old male with a past medical history of end stage renal disease presented to the emergency department with painful, lower-extremity necrotic ulcerations. Ultrasound and computed tomography imaging showed concerns for calcium deposits. Biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of calciphylaxis, a rare lethal disease. Discussion: Emergency physicians should keep this disease on their differential due to the high mortality rate.