A hospital survey of hypocalcemia and hypophosphatemia in malignancy

We evaluated the incidence of hypo- versus hypercalcemia and hypo- versus hyperphosphatemia in a survey of 158 patients with malignancy; 55/158 had bone metastases. When serum calcium levels were corrected for albuminemia, the incidence of hypo- and hypercalcemia was respectively 10.8% and 10.1%. Hypophosphatemia was found in 29.7% patients, hyperphosphatemia in 2.5%. The incidence was slightly different in presence of bone metastases. Hypocalcemia and hypophosphatemia prevailed in osteoblastic metastases and hypercalcemia in osteolytic metastases. The incidence of hypocalcemia and hypophosphatemia in malignancy was therefore surprisingly high, even apart from the presence of bone metastases. Both hypo- and hypercalcemia were associated with elevated serum alkaline phosphatase levels. Moreover, a calcium-phosphorus product reduction was observed in osteoblastic metastases, suggesting a condition of secondary hyperparathyroidism.