Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 7, 2025
06:21
Assessment of the Metabolic Profile of Primary Leukemia Cells
Published on: November 21, 2018
10.6K
[Malignant hypercalcaemia revealing acute lymphoblastic leukemia: case report].
Karima Fakhri1, Fatima Zahra Lahlimi1, Illias Tazi1
1Service d'Hématologie Clinique, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Mohammed VI Marrakech, Faculté de Médecine et de Pharmacie, Université Cadi Ayyad, Marrakech, Maroc.
The Pan African Medical Journal
|June 23, 2022
Summary
Malignant hypercalcaemia, a serious metabolic emergency, is rarely seen in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). This case highlights ALL presenting with hypercalcaemia and bone fracture, emphasizing diagnostic and therapeutic challenges.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Nephrology
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Malignant hypercalcaemia is a critical metabolic emergency.
- While common in solid tumors, it's rarely associated with hematologic malignancies outside specific T-cell types and multiple myeloma.
- Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is seldom linked to hypercalcaemia.
Observation:
- A female patient presented with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) initially revealed by severe malignant hypercalcaemia and a pathological humerus fracture.
- Laboratory findings included hypercalcaemia (163mg/l), renal failure (creatinine 22mg/l, GFR 26 ml/min), and suppressed parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels (9.9pg/ml).
- Imaging confirmed a pathological fracture of the humerus.
Findings:
- Myelogram and immunophenotyping confirmed the diagnosis of B-cell ALL.
- The patient's presentation underscores a rare but critical association between ALL and malignant hypercalcaemia.
- The condition required urgent management of both hypercalcaemia and the underlying leukemia.
Implications:
- This case highlights the importance of considering malignant hypercalcaemia in patients with acute leukemias, even when atypical.
- Early recognition and prompt treatment are crucial for managing this metabolic emergency and the underlying malignancy.
- Further attention to the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges of hypercalcaemia in acute leukemias is warranted.
