Histopathological patterns of nephrocalcinosis: a phosphate type can be distinguished from a calcium type.

Background: The etiology of nephrocalcinosis is variable. In this study, we wanted to elucidate whether the histopathological appearance of calcium phosphate deposits provides information about possible etiology.

Methods: Autopsy cases from the years 1988 to 2007 and native kidney biopsies from a 50-year period (1959-2008) with nephrocalcinosis were identified.