The "starry night" (diffuse microcalcific myopathy) - thousands of muscle microcalcifications after 30 years of Trichinella infection detected by ultrasound

Med Ultrason. 2023 Mar 30;25(1):107-110. doi: 10.11152/mu-3614. Epub 2022 Apr 14.

Abstract

Trichinellosis, a parasitosis transmitted through consumption of raw or undercooked meat from pigs and game animals, is responsible for a specific myositis. The calcifications of infected myocytes and larva can be detected during many years postin-fection. We present the case of a male patient with a history of severe trichinellosis with disease onset 30 years ago, presenting with generalized muscle microcalcifications detected during musculoskeletal ultrasound evaluation. The ultrasound aspect of the muscles was indeed spectacular; hence, the comparison with a "starry night".

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Calcinosis* / complications
  • Calcinosis* / diagnostic imaging
  • Male
  • Muscles
  • Muscular Diseases* / complications
  • Muscular Diseases* / diagnostic imaging
  • Swine
  • Trichinella* / physiology
  • Trichinellosis* / complications
  • Trichinellosis* / diagnostic imaging