Tumoral calcinosis in Somalia and Ethiopia: a report of twenty one cases and brief review of literature.

Tumoral calcinosis is an uncommon lesion of obscure aetiology often misdiagnosed. It occurs predominantly in the Negroid and African races, but there is paucity of African literature. This is the first report of eleven cases amongst Somalis and ten Ethiopians, involving only the greater trochanteric, gluteal and iliac crest regions. The clinical, radiological, macroscopical and histological features are typical and universally similar. It may grow rapidly, but usually, gradually over the years, more frequently at the pressure points. Multiple tumours do occur; affects both the sexes and all ages, but here all the Somalis were females. Most cases in both the countries were elderly (60 to 75 years of age) in contrast to other series. Wide surgical excision is essential to avoid recurrence.