Dystrophic Calcification (D.C.) is the calcification occurring in degenerated or necrotic tissue, as in hyalinized scars, degenerated foci in leiomyoma

Leiomyoma

A leiomyoma is a benign smooth muscle neoplasm that is not premalignant. They can occur in any organ, but the most common forms occur in the uterus, small bowel and the esophagus.- Etymology:* Greek:** λεῖος leios "smooth"...

s, and caseous nodule

Caseous necrosis

Caseous necrosis is a form of cell death in which the tissue maintains a cheese-like appearance. The dead tissue appears as a soft and white proteinaceous dead cell mass.-Causes:...

s. This occurs as a reaction to tissue damage, including as a consequence of medical device implantation.
Dystrophic calcification can occur even if the amount of calcium in the blood is not elevated. (A systemic mineral imbalance would elevate calcium levels in the blood and all tissues and cause metastatic calcification

Metastatic calcification

Metastatic calcification is deposition of calcium salts in otherwise normal tissue, because of elevated serum levels of calcium in blood, which can occur because of deranged metabolism as well as increased absorption or decreased excretion of calcium and related minerals.It occurs as opposed to...

.) Basophilic

Basophilic

Basophilic is a technical term used by histologists. It describes the microscopic appearance of cells and tissues, as seen down the microscope, after a histological section has been stained with a basic dye. The most common such dye is haematoxylin....

 calcium salt deposits aggregate, first in the mitochondria, and progressively throughout the cell. These calcifications are an indication of previous microscopic cell injury. It occurs in areas of cell necrosis in which activated phosphatases bind calcium ions to phospholipids in the membrane.

Calcification can occur in dead or degenerated tissue

Calcification in dead tissue

1. Caseous necrosis in T.B. is most common site of dystrophic calcification.
2. Liquefactive necrosis
   Liquefactive necrosis
   Liquefactive necrosis is a type of necrosis which results in a transformation of the tissue into a liquid viscous mass. Often it is associated with focal bacterial or fungal infections...
   
    in chronic abscesses may get calcified.
3. Fat necrosis
   Fat necrosis
   Fat necrosis is a form of necrosis characterized by the action upon fat by digestive enzymes.In fat necrosis the enzyme lipase releases fatty acids from triglycerides. The fatty acids then complex with calcium to form soaps...
   
    following acute pancreatitis or traumatic fat necrosis in breasts results in deposition of calcium soaps.
4. Infarcts may undergo D.C.
5. Thrombi
   Thrombus
   A thrombus , or blood clot, is the final product of the blood coagulation step in hemostasis. It is achieved via the aggregation of platelets that form a platelet plug, and the activation of the humoral coagulation system...
   
   , especially in veins, may produce phlebolith
   Phlebolith
   A phlebolith is a small local, usually rounded, calcification within a vein. These are very common in the veins of the lower part of the pelvis, and they are generally of no clinical importance. When located in the pelvis they are sometimes difficult to differentiate from kidney stones in the...
   
   is.
6. Haematomas in the vicinity of bones may undergo D.C.
7. Dead parasites like schistosoma
   Schistosoma
   A genus of trematodes, Schistosoma, commonly known as blood-flukes and bilharzia, includes flatworms which are responsible for a highly significant parasitic infection of humans by causing the disease schistosomiasis, and are considered by the World Health Organization as the second most...
   
    eggs may calcify.
8. Congenital toxoplasmosis
   Toxoplasmosis
   Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii. The parasite infects most genera of warm-blooded animals, including humans, but the primary host is the felid family. Animals are infected by eating infected meat, by ingestion of feces of a cat that has itself...
   
    or rubella
   Rubella
   Rubella, commonly known as German measles, is a disease caused by the rubella virus. The name "rubella" is derived from the Latin, meaning little red. Rubella is also known as German measles because the disease was first described by German physicians in the mid-eighteenth century. This disease is...
   
    may be seen on X-ray as calcifications in the brain.

Calcification in degenerated tissue

1. Dense scars may undergo hyaline
   Hyaline
   The term hyaline denotes a substance with a glass-like appearance.-Histopathology:In histopathological medical usage, a hyaline substance appears glassy and pink after being stained with haematoxylin and eosin — usually it is an acellular, proteinaceous material...
   
    degeneration and calcification.
2. Atheroma
   Atheroma
   In pathology, an atheroma is an accumulation and swelling in artery walls that is made up of macrophage cells, or debris, that contain lipids , calcium and a variable amount of fibrous connective tissue...
   
    in aorta
   Aorta
   The aorta is the largest artery in the body, originating from the left ventricle of the heart and extending down to the abdomen, where it branches off into two smaller arteries...
   
    and coronaries frequently undergo calcification.
3. Cyst
   Cyst
   A cyst is a closed sac, having a distinct membrane and division on the nearby tissue. It may contain air, fluids, or semi-solid material. A collection of pus is called an abscess, not a cyst. Once formed, a cyst could go away on its own or may have to be removed through surgery.- Locations :* Acne...
   
   s can show calcifcation.
4. Calcinosis cutis
   Calcinosis cutis
   Calcinosis cutis is a type of calcinosis wherein calcium deposits form in the skin. A variety of factors can result in this condition. The most common source is dystrophic calcification, which occurs in soft tissue as a response to injury...
   
    is condition in which there are irregular nodular deposits of calcium salts in skin and subcutaneous tissue.
5. Senile degenerative changes may be accompanied by calcification.
6. The inherited disorder pseudoxanthoma elasticum
   Pseudoxanthoma elasticum
   Pseudoxanthoma elasticum , also known as Grönblad–Strandberg syndrome, is a genetic disease that causes fragmentation and mineralization of elastic fibers in some tissues. The most common problems arise in the skin and eyes, and later in blood vessels in the form of premature atherosclerosis...
   
    may lead to angioid streaks
   Angioid streaks
   Angioid streaks, also called Knapp streaks or Knapp striae are small breaks in Bruch's membrane, an elastic tissue containing membrane of the retina that can become calcified and crack....
   
    with calcification of Bruch's membrane
   Bruch's membrane
   Bruch's membrane is the innermost layer of the choroid. It is also called the vitreous lamina, because of its glassy microscopic appearance.It is 2–4 μm thick.-Layers:Bruch's membrane consists of five layers :...
   
   , the elastic tissue below the retina.