Related Experiment Videos
[Bladder carcinoma presenting with hypercalcemia: a case report]
Y Maeda1, H Nakazawa, N Yoshimura
1Department of Urology, Tokyo Women's Medical College.
Hinyokika Kiyo. Acta Urologica Japonica
|February 1, 1997
Summary
A bladder tumor caused severe hypercalcemia in a 47-year-old woman. Despite treatment and surgery, the advanced cancer led to her death seven months later.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Urology
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Hypercalcemia is a common complication of malignancy, often associated with poor prognosis.
- Parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) is a frequent mediator of cancer-induced hypercalcemia.
Observation:
- A 47-year-old woman presented with symptoms of nausea, vomiting, and weight loss.
- Imaging revealed an invasive bladder tumor with calcification.
- Laboratory tests showed significant hypercalcemia (20.6 mg/dl) and elevated PTHrP (29.9 pmol/l).
Findings:
- The bladder tumor was identified as the source of PTHrP production, causing hypercalcemia.
- Treatment with pamidronate and fluid resuscitation normalized calcium levels.
- Histopathology confirmed advanced transitional cell carcinoma (G3, pT4pN2M0, stage IV).
Implications:
- This case highlights the importance of investigating hypercalcemia in patients with bladder cancer.
- PTHrP measurement can aid in diagnosing humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy.
- Despite aggressive management, advanced bladder cancer with hypercalcemia has a poor prognosis.