Emergency Management of Malignancy-Associated Hypercalcemia.

The most common cause of hypercalcemia in the emergency department (ED) is malignancy-associated hypercalcemia (MAH), which can be caused by direct bone resorption from bone metastases, vitamin D secreting malignancies, and increased parathyroid hormone (PTH) or PTH-related protein (PTHrP) levels. Malignancy-associated hypercalcemia is associated with a very poor prognosis, with half of the patients dying within a month of diagnosis. Management consists of adequate hydration, bisphosphonate therapy, and correction of other abnormal electrolyte levels.