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

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Article ID: 100088Z11MA2025

doi: 10.5348/100088Z11MA2025CR

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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 - Substantial contributions to conception and design, Analysis of data, Drafting the article, Final approval of the version to be published

Laura R Vick - Substantial contributions to conception and design, Acquisition of data, Revising it critically for important intellectual content, Final approval of the version to be published

Amy E Flischel - Substantial contributions to conception and design, Acquisition of data, Revising it critically for important intellectual content, Final approval of the version to be published

Youssef Al Hmada - Substantial contributions to conception and design, Revising it critically for important intellectual content, Final approval of the version to be published

Robert T Brodell - Substantial contributions to conception and design, Acquisition of data, Revising it critically for important intellectual content, Final approval of the version to be published

Guarantor of Submission

The corresponding author is the guarantor of submission.

Source of Support

None

Consent Statement

Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this article.

Data Availability

All relevant data are within the paper and its Supporting Information files.

Conflict of Interest

Robert 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.