Bone and calcium metabolism associated with malignancy. Malignancy-associated hypercalcemia.

Abstract

Hypercalcemia is a poor prognostic factor and can be a direct cause of death in patients with malignancy. Here we provide a brief overview of pathology, etiology and management of malignancy associated hypercalcemia(MAH). MAH can be divided into two categories:humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy(HHM)caused by a systemic soluble factor secreted by the tumor;and local osteolytic hypercalcemia(LOH)in which tumor cells in situ enhance bone resorption. The standard treatment of MAH is intense hydration along with antiresorptive medications such as calcitonin, bisphosphonate and denosumab.