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Case Report
Utilization of FaxitronTM imaging for the pathologic diagnosis of calciphylaxis: A case report
1 Department of Pathology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
2 Department of Surgery, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
3 Department of Dermatology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
Address correspondence to:
Muhammad Awais
University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi,
USA
Message to Corresponding Author
Article ID: 100088Z11MA2025
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How to cite this article
Awais M, Vick LR, Flischel AE, Al Hmada Y, Brodell RT. Utilization of FaxitronTM imaging for the pathologic diagnosis of calciphylaxis: A case report. J Case Rep Images Pathol 2025;11(1):22–25.ABSTRACT
Introduction: Calciphylaxis is a rare, life-threatening condition characterized by vascular calcification, thrombosis, and ischemic necrosis of the skin and subcutaneous tissues. Diagnosing calciphylaxis can be challenging due to non-specific clinical features and limitations of conventional biopsy techniques.
Case Report: We describe a 62-year-old female with a history of hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and sarcoidosis, presenting with painful necrotic abdominal lesions. Initial punch biopsy revealed non-specific changes without evidence of calciphylaxis. During surgical debridement, calcified vessels were observed intraoperatively. FaxitronTM imaging of excised tissue confirmed vascular calcifications, guiding targeted histopathological analysis. Subsequent examination demonstrated medial calcification, intimal hyperplasia, and vascular occlusion, confirming calciphylaxis.
Conclusion: This case highlights the utility of FaxitronTM imaging in enhancing the diagnostic accuracy of calciphylaxis. By guiding targeted histological evaluation, this imaging modality can minimize false negatives and facilitate early, accurate diagnosis, improving patient outcomes.
Keywords: Calcific uremic arteriolopathy, Calciphylaxis, Digital radiography, FaxitronTM
SUPPORTING INFORMATION
Author Contributions
Muhammad Awais - Conception of the work, Design of the work, Analysis of data, Drafting the work, Final approval of the version to be published, Agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.
Laura R Vick - Conception of the work, Design of the work, Acquisition of data, Revising the work critically for important intellectual content, Final approval of the version to be published, Agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.
Amy E Flischel - Conception of the work, Design of the work, Acquisition of data, Revising the work critically for important intellectual content, Final approval of the version to be published, Agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.
Youssef Al Hmada - Conception of the work, Design of the work, Revising the work critically for important intellectual content, Final approval of the version to be published, Agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.
Robert T Brodell - Conception of the work, Design of the work, Acquisition of data, Revising the work critically for important intellectual content, Final approval of the version to be published, Agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.
Guarantor of SubmissionThe corresponding author is the guarantor of submission.
Source of SupportNone
Consent StatementWritten informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this article.
Data AvailabilityAll relevant data are within the paper and its Supporting Information files.
Conflict of InterestRobert T Brodell is a principal investigator for clinical trials (Novartis, Sanofi, and Lilly), participates in the Corevitas Psoriasis Biologic Registry, receives royalties from UpToDate, has received consulting fees from Amgen, and holds stock ownership in Veradermics, Inc. Muhammad Awais, Laura R Vick, Amy E Flischel, and Youssef Al Hmada have no conflicts of interest.
Copyright© 2025 Muhammad Awais et al. This article is distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium provided the original author(s) and original publisher are properly credited. Please see the copyright policy on the journal website for more information.
