Ghosh P, Santosa A C, Lin G Y, Downs T M
Department of Internal Medicine, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA 92161, USA.
Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis. 2006;9(4):448-51. doi: 10.1038/sj.pcan.4500875. Epub 2006 May 9.
Prostate cancer has a distinctly recognized pattern of metastases: multifocal and osteoblastic lesions involving the axial skeleton and non-calcified lymph nodes in the pelvic and lumbar aortic groups. Most adenocarcinomas are capable of producing macrocalcification. We report a case of prostate cancer with de novo calcified metastases to the liver and retroperitoneal lymph nodes mimicking the pattern usually seen in mucin-producing adenocarcinomas arising from the gastrointestinal tract. To our knowledge, this is the first such case to be reported in the literature. We propose a multifactorial mechanism that supports dystrophic calcification in this case. The knowledge of atypical presentation of metastatic disease can prevent diagnostic delay and prompt initiation of therapy.