Hypocalcemia — An Unusual Metabolic Complication of Breast Cancer

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Abstract
HYPOCALCEMIA as a complication of metastatic cancer is rare. It has been reported as occurring spontaneously in lung cancer,1 in response to successful treatment of carcinoma of the prostate2 , 3 and in chronic leukemia,4 but has seldom been noted in breast cancer.5 Hypercalcemia, however, is common in breast cancer6 , 7 and appears to be variable in etiology, pathogenesis and prognostic significance.8 , 9 Recent reports of hypercalcemia that occurred in the absence of metastatic bony involvement suggest the secretion of a parathormone-like substance by the tumor.10 The secretion of a thyrocalcitonin-like11 substance by tumors is an intriguing alternate possibility but has not been described . . .