Editing Dystrophic calcification (section)

{{short description|Accumulation of calcium in degenerated or necrotic tissue}}
[[Image:Amyloidosis, dystrophic calcification, H&E.jpg|thumb|[[Amyloidosis]], dystrophic calcification]]
[[File:Histopathology of dystrophic microcalcifications in ductal carcinoma in situ.jpg|thumb|Histopathology of dystrophic [[microcalcification]]s in [[ductal carcinoma in situ]] of the breast, H&E stain. In contrast to an artifact of crowded cells, the calcification characteristically extends outside the focal plane, as the background DCIS is blurred in this focus.]]
'''Dystrophic calcification''' ('''DC''') is the [[calcification]] occurring in degenerated or [[necrotic tissue]], as in [[hyalin]]ized scars, degenerated foci in [[leiomyoma]]s, and [[caseous necrosis|caseous nodule]]s. This occurs as a reaction to tissue damage,<ref name="urlCell Injury">{{cite web |url=http://library.med.utah.edu/WebPath/CINJHTML/CINJ047.html |title=Cell Injury |website= |accessdate=}}</ref> including as a consequence of medical device implantation. Dystrophic calcification can occur even if the amount of calcium in the blood is not elevated, in contrast to [[metastatic calcification]], which is a consequence of a systemic mineral imbalance, including hypercalcemia and/or hyperphosphatemia, that leads to calcium deposition in healthy tissues.<ref>{{cite book|vauthors=Elgazzar AH|chapter=Chapter 8: Diagnosis of Soft Tissue Calcification|title=Orthopedic Nuclear Medicine|orig-date=Originally published 2004|year=2011|pages=197–210|doi=10.1007/978-3-642-18790-2_8|publisher=Springer-Verlag|isbn=978-3-642-18790-2}}</ref>  In dystrophic calcification, [[basophilic]] calcium salt deposits aggregate, first in the [[mitochondria]], then progressively throughout the cell.{{citation needed|date=October 2023}}  These calcifications are an indication of previous microscopic cell injury, occurring in areas of cell necrosis when activated [[phosphatase]]s bind calcium ions to phospholipids in the membrane.