Rapid Review: Hypercalcemia

Hypercalcemia

• Patient will be complaining of bone pain (Bones), kidney stones (Stones), abdominal pain (Groans), lethargy, psychosis (Psychiatric overtones)
• Labs will show ↓ QT interval
• Most commonly caused by:
  • Malignancy (most common inpatient cause)
  • Primary hyperparathyroidism (most common outpatient cause)
• Treatment is IV fluids

Sample question:

A 67-year-old woman who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer presents to the ED accompanied by family who state that she has been increasingly confused over the past three days. Additionally, over the past week, she has been complaining of fatigue, diffuse body aches, poorly localized abdominal pain, and constipation. Which of the following electrolyte abnormalities is the most likely explanation for her symptoms?