Calcific tendinitis

Calcific tendinitis is a common and expected aspect of tendinopathy or enthesopathy where deposits of calcium phosphate form in a tendon or enthesis. Calcium in a tendon or enthesis is seen on radiographs (X-ray imaging). Calcification in soft tissues is associated with acute inflammation on uncommon occasions, a condition referred to as acute calcific tendinitis. It’s important to distinguish acute calcific tendinitis from the very common calcium deposits in tendinopathy and enthesopathy. The symptoms of acute calcific tendinitis can mimic infection: intense pain, and warmth, redness and swelling in superficial sites. The symptoms from acute calcific tendinitis resolve spontaneously over a few weeks. The calcium is typically amorphous on radiographs in acute calcific tendinitis and often disappears after the inflammation resolves. Treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can alleviate pain. Calcifications in the rotator cuff were first described by Ernest Codman in 1934. The name, "calcifying tendinitis" was coined by Henry Plenk in 1952.