title: [Hypercalcemia as incidental finding--what should be done?].
abstract: The discovery of a hypercalcemia validated by exclusion of hemoconcentration and follow-up calcium determinations opens the differential diagnosis of a malignancy and of hyperthyroidism whereas drug-induced causes can be recognized easily. A single determination of plasmatic parathyroid hormone (PTH) allows to safely distinguish between PTH-induced or PTH-independent, most often tumor-associated hypercalcemia. In both instances the patient may be free of symptoms particularly the very old one. Therapeutic measures are indicated in both instances: Treatment of malignancy-associated hypercalcemia is clinically effective and treatment of asymptomatic hyperthyroidism is likewise recommended, mainly to preserve bone mass and cerebral performance.
authors.affiliation: Département de médecine interne, Service de médecine interne A CHUV, Lausanne.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Burckhardt
mesh_terms: D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D006934:Hypercalcemia / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D006961:Hyperparathyroidism / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D010257:Paraneoplastic Syndromes / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D002118:Calcium
vernacular_title: Hyperkalzämie als Zufallsbefund--was tun?