Iranian Journal of Medical Sciences
Iranian Journal of Medical Sciences

Diffuse Hepatic Calcifications in a Transfusion-Dependent Patient with Beta-Thalassemia: A Case Report

Document Type : Case Report(s)

Authors

Forough Saki 1
Mohammad Reza Bordbar 2
Mohammad Hadi Imanieh 3
Mehran Karimi 2

1 Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Student Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

2 Hematology Research Center, Nemazee Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

3 Gastroenterohepatology Research Center, Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Nemazee Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

Abstract
Hepatic calcification is usually associated with infectious, vascular, or neoplastic processes in the liver. We report the first case of beta-thalassemia major with isolated diffuse hepatic calcification in a 23 year old woman, who had been transfusion-dependent since the age of 6 months. She was referred to our center with a chief complaint of abdominal pain. Computed tomography scan of the abdomen revealed diffuse hepatic calcification in the right, left, and caudate lobes of the liver. Her medical history disclosed hypoparathyroidism as well as chronic hepatitis C virus infection, which was successfully treated but led to early micronodular cirrhosis on liver biopsy. Other studies done to search for the cause of hepatic calcification failed to reveal any abnormalities. We suspect that hypoparathyroidism caused liver calcification, and should be, therefore, considered in the differential diagnosis of hepatic calcification if other causative factors have been ruled out.

Keywords

Beta-Thalassemia major
Hepatic
Calcification
Hypoparathyroidism
Iranian Journal of Medical Sciences
Volume 38, Issue 3 - Serial Number 3
1
September 2013
Pages 271-274

  • Received 25 August 2013
  • Revised 23 August 2020
  • Accepted 24 December 2018

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