000 Calcifications in the Lung
| Disease / Diagnosis (Standard Link) | Grouped Category | Alternative Names | Definition & Comment | Imaging Features | Structure | Category | Faces & Cases | Art & Music | Case / Game Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calcifications (Overview) | General | Pulmonary Calcification | Definition: Deposition of calcium salts in lung tissue. Comment: Dystrophic (damaged tissue) vs. Metastatic (high calcium levels). Pattern is key to diagnosis. |
• High attenuation (>100 HU) • Bone density opacity |
Variable | Finding | Faces of Calcification | ||
| I. Parenchymal Calcifications | |||||||||
| Miliary Calcifications | Parenchymal (Diffuse) | Disseminated Calcification | Definition: Innumerable tiny calcified nodules scattered throughout the lungs. Comment: Causes: Healed Varicella (Chickenpox), Histoplasmosis, or Metastatic Calcification (Renal Failure). |
• Diffuse punctate calcifications • “Sandstorm” appearance (Microlithiasis) |
Parenchyma | Infection / Metabolic | Faces of Calcified Nodules | ||
| Calcified Nodule (Granuloma) | Parenchymal (Benign) | Calcified Granuloma | Definition: Calcification of a healed infectious focus (TB, Histoplasmosis). Comment: The most common cause of calcified nodules. |
• Central: Target sign • Laminated: Onion-skin • Diffuse: Complete calcification |
Parenchyma | Infection (Healed) | Faces of Calcified Nodules | Case 174Lu | |
| Hamartoma | Parenchymal (Benign) | Pulmonary Hamartoma | Definition: Benign neoplasm of disorganized lung tissue (cartilage, fat, fibrotic tissue). Comment: Contains fat and characteristic calcification. |
• Popcorn calcification • Fat density (-40 to -120 HU) |
Parenchyma | Neoplasm (Benign) | Faces of Calcified Nodules | ||
| Calcified Mass (Malignant) | Parenchymal (Malignant) | Calcified Metastasis / Carcinoma | Definition: Calcification within a primary cancer or metastasis. Comment: Osteosarcoma (bone forming) and Mucinous Adenocarcinoma (dystrophic). |
• Stippled/Punctate: (Mucinous) • Amorphous/Cloud-like: (Osteosarcoma) • Eccentric: (Carcinoma) |
Parenchyma | Neoplasm (Malignant) | Faces of Calcified Masses | ||
| Calcification, Interlobular Septa | Interstitial | Dendriform Ossification | Definition: Calcification occurring along the lymphatic/septal scaffolding. Comment: Rare. Seen in Pulmonary Alveolar Microlithiasis or chronic venous stasis (ossification). |
• Linear calcifications (septal) • Branching (dendriform) pattern |
Interstitium | Metabolic / Fibrotic | Faces of Calcifications Interlobular Septa | ||
| II. Lymph Node Calcifications | |||||||||
| Calcified Lymph Nodes | Nodal | – | Definition: Calcification of hilar or mediastinal nodes due to prior infection or exposure. Comment: Granulomatous (TB/Histo) is most common. |
• Amorphous/Popcorn: Old Granulomatous • Eggshell: Silicosis/Sarcoidosis (Peripheral rim) • Stippled: Treated Lymphoma |
Lymph Nodes | Infection / Occupational | |||
| III. Pleural Calcifications | |||||||||
| Calcified Pleural Plaques | Pleural (Bilateral) | Asbestos Plaques | Definition: Focal calcified fibrosis of the parietal pleura due to asbestos exposure. Comment: Hallmark of asbestos exposure; usually bilateral. |
• Bilateral discontinuous plaques • “Holly leaf” pattern • Spares costophrenic angles |
Pleura (Parietal) | Occupational | Faces of Calcified Pleura | ||
| Calcified Fibrothorax | Pleural (Isolated) | Calcified Empyema / Hemothorax | Definition: Calcification of a thickened pleural rind following old infection (TB) or trauma. Comment: Often unilateral; restricts lung expansion. |
• Isolated/Unilateral • Continuous sheet-like calcification • Encases the lung (Volume loss) |
Pleura (Visceral) | Fibrotic | Faces of Calcified Pleura | ||
| IV. Heart & Mediastinum | |||||||||
| Heart Valve Calcification | Cardiac | Valvular Sclerosis | Definition: Dystrophic calcification of cardiac valves. Comment: Common in elderly (Aortic/Mitral annulus). |
• Curvilinear or nodular calcium • Location: Aortic or Mitral valve plane |
Heart | Degenerative | |||
| Pericardial Calcification | Cardiac | Calcified Pericardium | Definition: Calcification of the pericardial sac. Comment: Associated with Constrictive Pericarditis (TB, Viral, Radiation). |
• Thickened, calcified pericardial rim • Often typically anterior/inferior |
Pericardium | Inflammatory | |||