Abstract
Humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy (HHM) is a common complication in lung cancer. Parathyroid hormone-related peptide may play a role in the HHM syndrome.
We report a case of small cell lung cancer hypercalcemia. Serum Intact-PTH was below the normal range and the 1, 25- (OH) 2D3 concentrations were not elevated, although the blood plasma PTHrP level was elevated. These findings are consistent with those in HHM.
A 69-year-old man was admitted to our hospital for investigation of appetite loss and nausea. The symptoms of appetite loss and nausea are associated with hypercalcemia. A percutaneous lung biopsy was performed. Histologically, the tumor was small cell carcinoma. Immunohistochemical examination revealed positive PTHrP in the tumor tissues. The staining was mild to moderate, and evenly distributed throughout the cytoplasm of most of the neoplastic cells.
