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Parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) is a common cause of malignancy-associated hypercalcemia. In this retrospective case series covering 11 years, researchers reviewed 138 cases of PTHrP-mediated hypercalcemia that were identified by searching a laboratory database from Queensland, Australia.
Squamous cell cancers (most commonly lung and head/neck) and adenocarcinomas (most commonly unknown primary, breast, and renal cell) each accounted for 28% of cases. Other solid-organ malignancies (most commonly urothelial and other lung carcinomas) and hematologic malignancies (most commonly non-Hodgkin lymphoma) accounted for 24% and 9%, respectively. The cause was unknown (and apparently benign) in 7% of cases. Median serum calcium level was …