calcitriol and Neuroendocrine-Tumors

Hypercalcemia is a common paraneoplastic syndrome which can occur in up to 10% of patients with advanced neoplasms. Paraneoplastic parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) represents the most frequent cause of this syndrome. In neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) paraneoplastic hypercalcemia is rare.. The present series includes all patients with NENs and paraneoplastic hypercalcemia from four Italian centres:. In our series, paraneoplastic PTHrP-related hypercalcemia occurred in pancreatic NEN and in one bronchial carcinoid representing the third case in the literature. Our case associated with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D secretion represents the fourth case in the literature. PTHrP secretion should be considered in NENs' patients with hypercalcemia. Acute treatment should be focused on lowering calcium levels, and long-term control can be achieved by tumor cytoreduction inhibiting PTHrP release.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Female; Humans; Hypercalcemia; Male; Middle Aged; Neuroendocrine Tumors; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Prognosis; Vitamin D