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Monckeberg's sclerosis is a disease of unknown aetiology characterised by dystrophic
calcification of the media of arteries. This condition is usually seen in the
major lower limb arteries of elderly patients, and may also be seen in the head,
neck and pelvis, especially the uterine arteries. Stenosis and atheroma may occur
but the lumen usually remains patent, leading to "pipe-stem" rigidity. - Mönckeberg's
arteriosclerosis, is a condition that leads to the stiffening of the elastic layer
of the arterial wall, but in contrast to intimal artery calcification, it does
not obstruct the arterial lumen
- the condition does not involve primarily
the intimal layer of the artery, the lumen is kept open by the rigid media and,
therefore, luminal narrowing is not a direct consequence
- a risk factor
for cardiovascular disease and peripheral artery obstruction
- this condition
is frequently related to glucose intolerance, aging, male gender, autonomic neuropathy,
osteoporosis and, chronic renal failure
- commonly occurs in peripheral
arteries of the lower limbs where it is seen as "rail tracking" on incidental
plain radiograph
- medial artery calcification, as visualized by plain soft-tissue
radiograms is a powerful and easily recognizable risk marker for markedly increased
cardiovascular events unrelated to conventional risk factors (1,2)
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