Hypocalcemia associated with bone metastases in a patient with salivary-gland carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
A 70-year-old man presented with a smooth lump on his buccal mucosa and right-sided cervical lymphadenopathy. Staging investigations revealed extensive sclerotic bone metastases and the patient subsequently underwent palliative radiotherapy to the right face and cervical region. Seven months later he presented with a 4-day history of fatigue, muscle cramps, ataxia, paraesthesia, and blurred vision.


METHODS
Physical examination, biopsy of abnormal buccal mucosa, routine biochemistry, electrocardiogram, bone scan, CT scans of the chest, abdomen and pelvis, and MRI of the brain.


METHODS
Undifferentiated carcinoma of the salivary gland with sclerotic bone metastases and hypocalcemia.


RESULTS
Palliative radiotherapy to the right face and cervical region, infusions of calcium gluconate and calcium chloride, oral calcium carbonate, vitamin D and magnesium, palliative chemotherapy (carboplatin and 5-fluorouracil), and whole brain radiotherapy.
Dawson
Sarah-Jane
SJ
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Vic, Australia. sarah-jane.dawson@petermac.org
Murray
Robin M L
RM
Rischin
Danny
D
D000368:Aged; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000150:complications / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D006996:Hypocalcemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome