Intrapelvic calcifications are fairly common findings on AP lumbar views. This diagram lists some of the more frequent causes of calcification.
Phleboliths are very common and are a calcified thrombus within a vein. Most adults will have a few in the pelvic basin.
Arterial calcification in the large arteries such as the aorta and common iliac vessels represents the most common form of arterial calcification atherosclerosis.
Subcutaneous and intramuscular injections can cause fat necrosis which will also calcify, often seen in the gluteal region.
Peripheral mesenteric lymph nodes commonly will calcify after being involved in a previous infection.
Calcification can also be found in the prostate caused by renal calculi.
The vas deferens may calcify, but is usually found only in men with long standing diabetes.
Calcification is often found in uterine fibroids.
Calcification is frequently present in benign and malignant ovarian tumors.
Most calcifications found in the pelvis are relatively benign, however, if there is a concern that the calcification may involve a neoplastic process, a second opinion should be obtained. Many patients do not have significant clinical symptoms early on, therefore, the AP lumbar view may be the initial study that reveals the truly significant pathological process.
Financial pressure, enrollment declines and institutional challenges are emerging at several U.S. chiropractic colleges. Life Chiropractic College West's and Life University's struggles may be the most talked about but appear to be part of a larger story. And with recent USDE requirements threatening to hamstring federal student financing for DC degree programs, chiropractic education is facing questions for which it has no immediate answers.
Musculoskeletal pain in perimenopause and menopause reflects a broader physiologic shift rather than an isolated structural problem. Declining estrogen, increased inflammation, metabolic dysfunction, and nervous system dysregulation collectively alter tissue quality, pain perception, and recovery capacity. Recognizing this interconnected model enables clinicians to move beyond symptom management and toward more effective, systems-based care that improves long-term outcomes for midlife women.
As the world remembers Dolly Parton following her death Aug. 25 at age 80, there is a little-known connection to the chiropractic profession worth revisiting: Dolly publicly acknowledged using chiropractic care and another famous entertainer even recalled meeting her at a chiropractor's office.
