4th April 2024

Paraneoplastic syndromes affecting the parathyroid gland

Hypercalcaemia occurs in approximately one-quarter of patients with cancer. Of these patients, the majority (80%) are caused by secretion of parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP), which leads to hypercalcemia via osteoclastic bone resorption. PTHrP is not detected on classical assays and thus, patients present with suppressed PTH (distinguishing patients from those with primary hyperparathyroidism).