title: Oesophageal carcinoma and hypercalcaemia: a clinical study.
abstract: Out of a retrospective series of 89 consecutive cases of squamous oesophageal carcinoma, twelve cases (13.3%) had hypercalcaemia (one of which is described in detail). Four out of the seven patients (57%) who had bone surveys had bone metastases. In hypercalcaemic patients the median survival was 17 weeks, while in normocalcaemic patients median survival was 19 weeks. The hypercalcaemia was overlooked or ignored in eleven out of the twelve cases. The high incidence of hypercalcaemia in oesophageal carcinoma may not be well recognised. Since a significant percentage of cases may not have bone metastases, the occurrence of a raised calcium does not necessarily preclude attempted curative treatment and, in addition, treatment of the hypercalcaemia may provide valuable relief of what are sometimes distressing symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Glasgow University Department of Surgery, Western Infirmary, UK.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: McMahon
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000150:complications*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006934:Hypercalcemia / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies