Hypocalcemia due to osteoblastic metastases and diminished parathyroid reserve in a patient with advanced breast cancer.
Symptomatic hypocalcemia is an uncommon finding in patients with malignant tumors. A patient with advanced breast cancer is described, who developed severe hypocalcemia in the course of her disease. The hypocalcemia was caused by the combination of enhanced calcium need due to progression of osteoblastic metastases and diminished parathyroid reserve due to tumorous infiltration of the parathyroid glands.