[A case of hypercalcemia with ovarian carcinoma]

A 45-year-old female manifested lower abdominal fullness and symptoms of hypercalcemia with nausea, vomiting, and thirst. Physical examination showed a right ovarian mass and laboratory data demonstrated hypercalcemia (14.6 mg/dl). The radiographic findings confirmed a right ovarian tumor without any evidence of bone metastasis. Tests revealed that her PTH, nephrogenic urinary cyclic AMP, and 1-25 (OH)2 Vitamin D were not high but that her prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) was elevated. After correction of her calcium elevation with infusion and prednisolone, right oophorectomy with tumor excision was performed. A histological examination of the tumor revealed a mucinous cysto-adenocarcinoma. The postoperative course has been uneventful, with normal calcium and PGE2 values. This case illustrates that hypercalcemia associated with an ovarian carcinoma (Malignancy-associated hypercalcemia) can be mediated by the patient's PGE2 in part.