Question:

Dystrophic calcification is seen in:

Show Hint

Dystrophic calcification occurs in damaged tissue with normal blood calcium; metastatic calcification needs high blood calcium.
Updated On: Jul 8, 2026
  • Rickets
  • Hyperparathyroidism
  • Atheromatous plaque
  • Vitamin A intoxication
Show Solution
collegedunia
Verified By Collegedunia

The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understanding the Question:
We need to identify which of the given conditions shows dystrophic calcification, that is calcium deposition in damaged or dead tissue while blood calcium levels stay normal.

Step 2: Key Formula or Approach:
Calcification is split into two types. Dystrophic calcification happens in areas of cell injury, necrosis, or degeneration, with normal serum calcium, common examples are atheromatous plaques, caseous tuberculous necrosis, fat necrosis, and damaged heart valves. Metastatic calcification happens in normal tissue because the blood calcium or phosphate level is raised, common causes are hyperparathyroidism, vitamin D or vitamin A excess, and conditions like rickets related bone and mineral disturbances.

Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
Rickets is a disorder of bone mineralisation from vitamin D deficiency, when it is treated or when there is an associated disturbance, it is linked with abnormal calcium and phosphate handling, and calcification here follows the metastatic pattern of raised mineral levels, not local tissue death.
Hyperparathyroidism raises blood calcium directly by increasing bone resorption, and this high calcium can deposit in normal tissues such as kidney and lung, which is metastatic calcification.
Atheromatous plaque contains areas of lipid deposition, cell death, and degeneration in the arterial wall, calcium salts deposit locally in this damaged tissue while the blood calcium level stays normal, this is the classic example of dystrophic calcification.
Vitamin A intoxication can raise blood calcium and contribute to metastatic calcification, it is not an example of local dystrophic change.

Step 4: Final Answer:
Dystrophic calcification, calcification in locally damaged tissue with a normal blood calcium level, is seen in atheromatous plaque.
Was this answer helpful?
0
0