[Melanoma and primary hyperparathyroidism]

The authors present 3 cases of melanoma associated with a parathyroid adenoma discovered by routine measurement of blood calcium levels. The melanomas were differently located and had different histological degrees. Hypercalcaemia is an infrequent complication of melanoma. According to data found in the literature, it is most often consecutive to bone metastases. The other causes of hypercalcaemia are metastatic extension of melanoma to the parathyroid glands, secretion of parathormone-related peptide (PTH-RP) and the actions of prostaglandins, vitamin D and the osteoclast-activating factor (OAF). Primary hyperparathyroidism due to adenoma has seldom been described associated with melanoma.