Calcified metastatic mediastinal lymph nodes from mucinous breast adenocarcinoma.

The article reports that calcified metastatic mediastinal lymph nodes from mucinous breast adenocarcinoma. The calcium deposit in mucin-producing adenocarcinomas is related to the presence of glycoproteins and mucopolysacharides, which are like ion-exchange resin. These calcifications are often multiple, punctate, fine, and localized inside the tumoral mass. They are different from circumscribed, patchy-type found in leiomyomas and leiomyosarcomas and from conglomerated-shape calcifications of dystrophic origin, seen in some tumours, which represent the stromal reaction to an endotumoral ischaemia, necrosis or bleeding.