Clinical lung cancer
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Clinical lung cancer · Jul 2007
Case ReportsMalignancy-related hypercalcemia developing on a bisphosphonate but responding to calcitonin.
Bisphosphonates are considered a cornerstone for the treatment of hypercalcemia of malignancy, whereas calcitonin has not been found to be as potent. We report a case of severe hypercalcemia of malignancy that developed while the patient was taking alendronate that responded to the use of calcitonin. ⋯ Intravenous calcitonin produced a dramatic decrease within 12 hours and normal serum calcium within 24 hours of treatment. Calcitonin might be useful for hypercalcemia of malignancy resistant to bisphosphonates.