Prognostic Factors of Hypercalcemia of Malignancy
Aumkhae Sookprasert MD1, Benchawan Khamnongkhu MD2, Jarin Chindaprasirt MD1, Kosin Wirasorn MD1
Affiliation : 1 Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine, Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kean University, Khon Kean, Thailand 2 Department of Medicine, Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kean University, Khon Kean, Thailand
Objective : Hypercalcemia of malignancy [HCM] relates to advanced stage of cancer and associates with short survival time.
However, the prognostic factors of HCM are limited to determine. The aim of the present study is to evaluate clinical
outcomes and prognostic factors of hypercalcemia of malignancy.
Materials and Methods : A retrospective study was designed and 81 of patients with newly diagnosed HCM in Srinagarind
University Hospital were enrolled during January 2006 to 2010. Clinical data and clinical outcomes were evaluated by uni-
and multivariate analysis.
Results : The majority of patients were male (60.4%). The average age of patients was 56 years old. The most common cause
of HCM was lung cancer (62.9%) followed by hematologic cancer (26.9%), urothelial cancer (11.1%), gastro-intestinal
cancer (4.49%), and breast cancer (4.49%). The most common presenting symptom of HCM was neuromuscular symptoms.
The months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.76 to 3.43). Patients with age less than 40 year-old and receiving treatment with
corticosteroid were a significant factor in univariate analysis. Only the factor of receiving treatment with corticosteroid was
a good significant prognostic factor (hazard ratio was 0.86; 95% CI: 0.81 to 0.99).
Conclusion : HCM is a disease with high mortality rate. HCM Patients, especially hematologic malignancy with corticosteroid
treatment, possibly had good prognosis compared to other groups.
Keywords : Hypercalcemia, Cancer, Hypercalcemia of malignancy, HCM
