[Hypercalcemia in breast cancer]

In a total of 277 patients with advanced breast cancer treated between July 1977 and November 1983 at Cancer Institute Hospital, there were 26 cases (9.4%) showing hypercalcemia (Ca greater than or equal to 11.0 mg/dl). All these patients had bone metastasis examined by either X-ray films or bone scintigram during clinical course of the disease and confirmed at the time of autopsy, thus an overall incidence of hypercalcemia in 149 patients with bone metastasis was 17.4%. Major clinical signs due to hypercalcemia were gastrointestinal symptoms such as anorexia, nausea and vomiting, renal dysfunction and neurological symptoms but there was no definitive correlation in between clinical signs and values of serum calcium. Among various treatments performed, a combination of hydration, steroids and calcitonin was the most effective. Mean survival time from the diagnosis of hypercalcemia was 288 + days for responders, and 28.8 days for non-responders (p less than 0.001). Seven patients expired due to hypercalcemia and were died suddenly, while others died of renal failures.