Carcinoma of the esophagus and hypercalcemia

Hypercalcemia was found in 19 (28%) of 67 patients with cancer of the esophagus. There was no evidence of bone metastases in 14 (20%) of the patients with hypercalcemia. The location of the lesion (upper, middle or lower esophagus) appears to have no bearing on the clinical features in this condition and the association of hypercalcemia with esophageal malignancy, even in the absence of bone metastases, should be recognized.