Hypercalcemia and urologic malignancies

Hypercalcemia may be a manifestation of a variety of disorders including hyperparathyroidism, hypervitaminosis D, sarcoidosis, multiple myeloma, hyperthyroidism, acute osteoporosis, metastatic bone disease, and a number of primary malignancies. Hypercalcemia may be seen in as many as 1.5% of all patients with malignant disease, with or without bony metastases. The neoplasms most commonly associated with hypercalcemia include carcinoma of the lung (all cell types), breast cancer, squamous cell carcinomas, hematologic malignancies, and renal cell carcinoma. Observation of a number of instances of hypercalcemia attendant on urologic malignancies prompts the brief report of 4 characteristic cases with documentation of response to therapy. Management of severe and debilitating hypercalcemia is emphasized. Urologists should be aware of new agents available for such treatment.