Hypercalcaemia due to ovarian small cell carcinoma of the hypercalcaemic type.

Annalisa Montebello, Mark Gruppetta

BMJ case reports 2021 Jul 30

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A 37-year-old woman presented with a few days' history of lower abdominal pain and an incidental finding of hypercalcaemia. A thorough workup ensued, and the cause was found to be an exceptionally rare ovarian tumour-ovarian small cell carcinoma of the hypercalcaemic type. Acute treatment of hypercalcaemia consisted of aggressive intravenous fluids and bisphosphonates. She underwent surgery to remove the tumour and is currently receiving systemic platinum/etoposide chemotherapy combination to be followed by pelvic radiotherapy. This case highlights the wide range of differential diagnosis for hypercalcaemia and the importance of a stepwise and thorough approach during investigations. We discuss the pathophysiology of malignancy-related hypercalcaemia, focusing especially on parathyroid hormone-related peptide-associated hypercalcaemia. © BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2021. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.

Citation

Annalisa Montebello, Mark Gruppetta. Hypercalcaemia due to ovarian small cell carcinoma of the hypercalcaemic type. BMJ case reports. 2021 Jul 30;14(7)