Calcinosis circumscripta of the aorta in a Holstein cow
Anderson, W.I.; King, J.M.
Veterinary Record 123(3): 80
1988
ISSN/ISBN: 0042-4900 PMID: 3176261 Document Number: 318497
A pregnant, mature, 765 kg, black and white Holstein cow with a 4-day history of ruminal atony and ketosis died despite treatment with intravenous dextrose and dexamethasone. PM examination was unremarkable except for a discrete, irregular 1.5 cm raised, white firm focus on the aorta 0.5 cm cranial to the aortic valve. Histologically the focus was composed of multiple, fractured acellular loculi containing light-red crystalline centres surrounded by dense, amorphous granular basophilic material. The individual loculi were separated by bands of fibrous material. A similar, discrete loculus was seen in the adjacent myocardium. A presumptive diagnosis of metabolic death was made and the focus characterised as idiopathic calcinosis circumscripta. This lesion has not been previously documented in a cow.