Hypercalcemia is common in malignancy; during the course of their disease, some 10 to 20% of all patients develop this electrolyte abnormality. It is frequently associated with carcinomas of the breast and lung, hematological malignancies, squamous cell carcinomas and hypernephroma. Most patients present with vague symptoms, ranging from fatigue to anorexia and nausea; polyuria and polydypsia may also be observed. If the problem is allowed to persist, neurologic symptoms develop which can progress to seizures, coma and death. When undiagnosed, hypercalcemia represents a metabolic emergency, which requires aggressive intervention and correction.
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