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Case Report: Pulmonary Alveolar Calcification as a Result of Severe Hypercalcemia due to Acute Lymphoblatic Leukemia

Jose Colleti Junior1, Eliana Carla Armelin Benites2, Gustavo Spadaccia Dos Santos Fernandes3

  • 1Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Santa Catarina Hospital , São Paulo, 01310 000, Brazil.

F1000Research
|July 28, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Severe hypercalcemia in a toddler, a rare metabolic disorder, was successfully treated with pamidronate. This case highlights hypercalcemia as a potential early sign of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Pediatric Oncology
  • Metabolic Disorders

Background:

  • Severe hypercalcemia is an uncommon metabolic disorder in children.
  • It can present with significant clinical manifestations and radiological findings, including osteolytic lesions and pulmonary calcification.
  • Hypercalcemia as an initial presentation of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is rare.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To report a rare case of severe hypercalcemia in a pediatric patient.
  • To describe the clinical and radiological features associated with severe hypercalcemia.
  • To emphasize the importance of considering ALL in cases of unexplained severe hypercalcemia.

Main Methods:

  • Case report of a 2-year-old toddler with severe hypercalcemia.
  • Clinical evaluation, radiological imaging (osteolytic lesions, pulmonary alveolar calcification).
  • Treatment with pamidronate (a bisphosphonate) and subsequent diagnostic workup for underlying causes.

Main Results:

  • The patient presented with severe hypercalcemia, osteolytic lesions, and massive pulmonary alveolar calcification.
  • Pamidronate effectively managed the hypercalcemia.
  • Further investigations revealed a diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

Conclusions:

  • Severe hypercalcemia can be a presenting sign of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in pediatric patients.
  • Radiological findings can be indicative of hypercalcemia-induced complications.
  • Prompt diagnosis and treatment, including bisphosphonates for hypercalcemia and chemotherapy for ALL, are crucial for favorable outcomes.

Keywords:
acute lymphoblastic leukemiahypercalcemiaosteolytic lesionspaediatric case reportpulmonary alveolar calcification

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