[Hypercalcemia in neoplastic and granulomatous diseases: pathogenesis and treatment options].

Hypercalcemia is a frequently observed laboratory phenomenon in clinical practice. It can occur in several diseases, among which it is associated most frequently with neoplasms, hyperparathyroidism and disorders of vitamin D metabolism. The appearance of hypercalcemia in neoplastic diseases is related to a poor prognosis in general. In most cases, malignant hypercalcemia is related to the secretion of parathormone-related protein, but other causes have also been described. Granulomatous diseases are associated with the hypersecretion of vitamin D metabolites. Fluid volume repletion, forced diuresis can be regarded as cornerstones in the therapy of acute hypercalcemia independent of its etiology, in addition, medications including bisphosphonates, calcitonin, gallium nitrate and glucocorticoids can be applied. In this review article, the authors present a brief synopsis of the pathogenesis of hypercalcemia associated with neoplastic and granulomatous diseases along with the treatment options, underlining the practical aspects.