Detection of the hypercalcemic hormone of malignancy in an adrenal cortical carcinoma

We report a case of an adrenal cortical carcinoma associated with hypercalcemia. Tumor extracts showed significant activity in an in vitro assay that detects the existence of a hypercalcemic substance distinct from parathyroid hormone. Calcium studies revealed no other obvious cause of hypercalcemia in this patient, and serum calcium returned to normal after the tumor was removed.