Hypercalcemia- Leukocytosis Syndrome: A Rare Ominous Indicator in Lung Cancer

Discussion:The case clearly demonstrates poor prognostic indicators with hypercalcemia and severe leukocytosis in the setting of end stage lung adenosquamous carcinoma. Classically, paraneoplastic hypercalcemia is associated with PTHrP production in Squamous Cell carcinoma. Overall incidence of hypercalcemia in lung cancer ranges from to 8%-12% with median survival time (MST) of 3.8 months (1,2).Paraneoplastic Leukocytosis meanwhile is most often associated with adenocarcinoma (42%) and squamous cell carcinoma (36%) with incidence ranging between 16 and 30% and MST of 1.9 months (1,2). Nonetheless, the combination of these two known as Hypercalcemia-Leukocytosis syndrome has been identified an independent clinical entity with an even shorter median survival time in comparison with leukocytosis or hypercalcemia alone of 1.5 months (2). The incidence of this was studied to be 0.5% over a 10 year interval (2). Given this rare occurrence, it is prudent for clinicians to recognize this clinical syndrome and the very poor prognosis it bears .https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4127595/G.R. Mundy, K.J. Ibbotson, S.M. D'Souza, E.L.Simpson, J.W. Jacobs, T.J. MartinThe hypercalcemia of cancer. Clinical implications and pathogenic mechanismsN Engl J Med, 310 (1984), pp. 1718-1727.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169500203004549?via%3Dihub Hypercalcemia-leukocytosis syndrome associated with lung cancerDisclosuresNo relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Source: Blood - Category: Hematology Authors: Tags: 203. Lymphocytes, Lymphocyte Activation, and Immunodeficiency, including HIV and Other Infections Source Type: research