Case report. Tumoral calcinosis: an unusual complication of the laxative abuse syndrome.

A 47-year-old woman who abused laxatives as a means of weight control is described. Her laxative abuse resulted in an episode of tetany for which she was given long-term calcium and vitamin D therapy. This therapy, along with the ingestion of absorbable phosphate and alkali, and large amounts of milk, led to the development of tumoral calcinosis. The failure to fully appreciate the contribution of laxative abuse in her metabolic imbalance resulted in this complication.