Oncologic Emergencies Dr Karenza Alexis

Hypercalcemia

• Occurs in 10-20% of cancer patients- bony mets v paraneoplastic

• Assocciated most commonly with:

• myeloma, lung cancer (squamous cell), renal cancer, breast cancer, head and neck tumors, leukemias, unknown primaries

Hypercalcemia

• Symptoms/ signs

• Presence may depend on speed at which hypercalcemia develops
• General: dehydration, anorexia, pruritis, weight loss, fatigue
• CNS: weakness, hypotonia, proximal myopathy, mental status changes, seizure, coma
• Cardiac: bradycardia, short QT interval, prolonged PR interval, wide T wave, atrial or ventricular arrythmias
• GI: nausea/vomiting, constipation, ileus, pancreatitis, dyspepsia
• Renal: Polyuria, nephrocalcinosis