Bilateral, symmetrical soft tissue calcifications in the face

Skeletal Radiol. 2010 Apr;39(4):387-9. doi: 10.1007/s00256-009-0853-0. Epub 2010 Jan 5.

Abstract

A 50-year-old woman with jaw pain and a history of bisphosphonate use was shown on radiography to have ill-defined soft tissue calcifications overlying the maxilla, mandible, and zygomatic bones bilaterally. The bones were normal. CT revealed similar findings. Although a broad imaging differential diagnosis was initially considered, further questioning of the patient revealed a history of facial injections with a calcium hydroxylapatite product for cosmetic purposes. The appearance of this increasingly popular treatment should be recognized to avoid errors in interpretation.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Biocompatible Materials / adverse effects
  • Calcinosis / chemically induced*
  • Calcinosis / diagnostic imaging*
  • Connective Tissue Diseases / chemically induced*
  • Connective Tissue Diseases / diagnostic imaging*
  • Cosmetic Techniques / adverse effects*
  • Durapatite / adverse effects*
  • Facial Pain / chemically induced
  • Facial Pain / diagnosis
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Radiography

Substances

  • Biocompatible Materials
  • Durapatite