Parathyroid hormone-related peptide as a cause of hypercalcemia in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck: a case presentation and subject review.

Background: Serum levels of parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) can be elevated with malignancy and cause hypercalcemia, which has been associated with a poor prognosis.

Methods: We present a case of supraglottic squamous cell carcinoma with elevated serum PTHrP and hypercalcemia. The patient was acutely managed with intravenous fluids, furosemide, and zoledronic acid and then underwent a total laryngectomy and modified radical neck dissection. RESULTS.: The patient remains disease free and normocalcemic.

Conclusion: Curative treatment for patients with head and neck cancer should not be withheld solely on the basis of humoral hypecalcemia of malignancy.