[Retrospective evaluation of an algorithm for the etiological diagnosis of hypercalcemia]

Aetiological diagnoses obtained by means of an algorithm were retrospectively compared with those made in the Internal Medicine Department of the La Pitié Hospital, Paris, in 22 cases of hypercalcaemia (24 causes detected). These cases covered all the usual causes of the disease. The algorithm produced no erroneous diagnosis. In 2 cases it would not have resulted in a precise diagnosis, but in all other patients the diagnosis obtained by this method was in agreement with the clinical diagnosis. Proposals are put forward for an improved version of the algorithm that would provide more rapid diagnoses and avoid the risk of a "no diagnosis" answer.