[Extraparathyroid hypercalcemia]

Hypercalcemia is the consequence of increased calcium fluxes into extracellular fluid. The origin of calcium is bone resorption, renal tubular reabsorption, rarely intestinal absorption. Among inpatients, the most frequent cause of hypercalcemia is tumor, with pathophysiological mechanisms implicating both enhanced bone resorption and increased renal tubular reabsorption of calcium. The presence of hyperosteolysis in most patients with hypercalcemia of non parathyroid origin, constitutes the rationale for the use of potent bone resorption inhibitors, such as bisphosphonates, in the acute treatment of hypercalcemia.