Revisiting Heinz-Lippman disease as a complication of chronic venous insufficiency

Alisha Oropallo; Amanda Beneat; Amit Rao; Eric Goodman

doi:10.1016/j.jvscit.2023.101408

Revisiting Heinz-Lippman disease as a complication of chronic venous insufficiency

J Vasc Surg Cases Innov Tech. 2023 Dec 29;10(2):101408. doi: 10.1016/j.jvscit.2023.101408. eCollection 2024 Apr.

Authors

Alisha Oropallo^{1

2

3}, Amanda Beneat³, Amit Rao³, Eric Goodman^{1

4}

Affiliations

¹ Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY.
² Department of Vascular Surgery, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY.
³ Northwell Health Comprehensive Wound Care Center, North Shore University Hospital, Lake Success, NY.
⁴ Department of Radiology, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY.

Abstract

Chronic venous insufficiency with and without ulceration is a common complication of varicose veins. Heinz-Lippmann disease is a potentially underreported complication of chronic venous insufficiency that involves heterotopic ossification of the peri-wound that might contribute to the chronicity of venous leg ulcers. Most commonly, heterotopic ossification is associated with traumatic injury. We report the cases of three patients with chronic venous insufficiency and no history of trauma who were found to have subcutaneous calcifications consistent with Heinz-Lippmann disease. Osteomyelitis was confirmed in two patients. Physical examination and diagnostic imaging can be helpful in determining the diagnosis. Interventions can include biopsy to rule out osteomyelitis, with subsequent treatment, if needed.

Keywords: Calcification; Computed tomography; Fluorescent imaging; Heterotopic ossification; Venous insufficiency.

Publication types

Case Reports