Life-threatening tamoxifen-induced hypercalcaemia.
This case report serves to emphasize two important features of metastatic breast carcinoma. First, that tamoxifen-induced flare, although a rare and self-limiting phenomenon, may be fatal and must thus be recognized and treated promptly. Secondly, those patients presenting with hypercalcaemia, as part of tamoxifen-induced tumour flare, invariably have metastatic disease but they may enjoy a durable prognosis if this is confined to the skeleton.
Mulvenna
P M
PM
Northern Centre for Cancer Treatment, Newcastle General Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Wright
A J
AJ
Podd
T J
TJ
D000368:Aged; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006934:Hypercalcemia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D017698:Postmenopause; D011379:Prognosis; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*
D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D013629:Tamoxifen