Hypercalcemia and vitamin D metabolism in Hodgkin's disease. Is there an underlying immunoregulatory relationship?

Case 207: Hodgkin lymphoma with paraneoplastic hypercalcemic pancreatitis

A 15-year-old girl presented with a 2-month history of 30-lb (13.6 kg) weight loss, chest and abdominal pain, nausea, bilious emesis, cough, and shortness of breath. Initial blood count (performed at an outside hospital) showed elevated white blood cell and platelet counts but low hemoglobin and hematocrit levels. On examination, she had adenopathy in the left axillary and supraclavicular regions, fullness in the left chest, and abdominal guarding. Ultrasonography (US)-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy of the left anterior chest wall mass was nondiagnostic, and lumbar puncture and bone marrow biopsies were negative. At that time, the patient underwent several imaging studies-including chest radiography; bone scanning; contrast material-enhanced computed tomography (CT) of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis; and fluorine 18 ((18)F) fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/CT-all performed within 1 week of each other. Pertinent serum laboratory values at the time of these tests were as follows: calcium level, 17 mg/dL (4.25 mmol/L) (normal range, 8.5-10.5 mg/dL [2.1-2.6 mmol/L]); ionized calcium level, 2.3 mmol/L (normal range, 1.1-1.3 mmol/L); lipase level, 2423 U/L (normal level, <300 U/L); amylase level, 1435 U/L (normal level, <140 U/L); lactate dehydrogenase level, 253 U/L (normal level, <240 U/L), albumin level, 2.6 g/dL (26 g/L) (normal level, 3.5-5.0 g/dL [35-50 g/L]), and creatinine level, 1.7 mg/dL (150.3 μmol/L) (normal level, <1.2 mg/dL [<106.1 μmol/L]). A follow-up PET/CT scan was performed approximately 2 months later after initial therapy.

Paraneoplastic syndromes in patients with head and neck cancer

Paraneoplastic syndromes are distinct physiological disorders of malignancy that occur remote from a tumor site. A review of a number of paraneoplastic syndromes occurring in patients with head and neck cancer has been discussed. These syndromes can produce life-threatening sequelae in the patient with cancer. Understanding these syndromes may provide important clinical information to assist in the early detection of occult malignancy and in reducing the occurrence of tumor-associated morbidity.

Hypercalcaemia in Hodgkin's disease related to prostaglandin synthesis

A case of paraneoplastic hypercalcaemic syndrome is reported in a patient with Hodgkin's disease. This was detected eight months before widespread lymphadenopathy became apparent. Lymphocyte depleted Hodgkin's disease was diagnosed. PTH (parathyroid hormone) activity was suppressed and PTHRP (PTH related protein) was less than 5 pmol/l. 1,25(OH)2D3 was in the normal range. Plasma calcium values returned to normal after the administration of indomethacin. Thus the pathogenesis of the hypercalcaemia in this patient could be associated with the synthesis of prostaglandins.

Parathyroid hormone related protein in hypercalcaemia of Hodgkin's disease

The role of parathyroid hormone related protein (PTHRP) as a humoral mediator of hypercalcaemia was investigated in a patient with lymphocyte depleted Hodgkin's disease during an episode of hypercalcaemia, using an immunohistochemical staining technique for PTHRP on the tumour tissue and an immunoradiometric (IRMA) assay for PTHRP1-86 on the patient's plasma. The plasma PTHRP was less than 0.23 pmol/l in the range found in normocalcaemic controls, and the immunohistochemical staining was not positive for protein. PTHRP did not have a role in the pathogenesis of hypercalcaemia in this patient.

Causes of oral tongue cancer treatment failures. Analysis of autopsy cases

Eighty-three autopsy cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the oral tongue were reviewed to identify retrospectively the causes of treatment failure. The cure rate for the primary cancers at autopsy was 48.2% (40 of 83). Regional lymph node metastases were found in 71.1% (59 of 83). Regional metastases and/or juxtaprimary recurrence frequently spread continuously and diffusely, forming bulky neck tumors in 38.6% (32 of 83). The incidence of distant lymph node metastasis (below the clavicle) and hematogenous metastasis was 35.4% (29 of 82) and 58.5% (48 of 82), respectively. The lung was the most common site of hematogenous metastases (52.4%, 43 of 82). Hematogenous metastasis occurred more frequently in the younger age group (less than 40 years of age; P = 0.03). Distant lymph node metastases were identified in the lung hilar, bifurcation, and paratracheal nodes in 89.7% (26 of 29) and had a statistically significant association with lung hematogenous metastasis. Univariate analysis revealed that gross appearance, tumor stage, clinical stage, presence of cervical lymph node metastasis, and interval from N0 to NX were significant predictors of survival time (duration from initial treatment to death). Rupture of the neck vessels was fatal in eight patients (9.6%), and hypercalcemia was seen in six (7.2%). Pulmonary infection was the direct cause of death in 33.7% of patients (28 of 83). Secondary malignant lesions occurred in 22.9% (19 of 83).

Primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of liver with humoral hypercalcaemia

A case of primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the liver with associated humoral hypercalcaemia is described. The patient was successfully treated with combination chemotherapy. A similar association has not been reported previously.