Question

77-year-old female patient with a history of osteoporosis, hypertension, and breast cancer treated with lumpectomy and radiation 2 years ago presents with anterior/posterior chest pain, hard brown stool, confusion, not oriented to person, place, or time, serum calcium 14.8, and head CT without contrast shows multiple skull metastases. What is the most probable cause for her hypercalcemia?

A) Hyperparathyroidism
B) Paget's disease of bone
C) Vitamin D toxicity
D) Hypercalcemia of malignancy

Answer 1

The most probable cause for the hypercalcemia in this patient is hypercalcemia of malignancy.

Step-by-step explanation:

The most probable cause for the hypercalcemia in the patient described is hypercalcemia of malignancy. Hypercalcemia of malignancy refers to high levels of calcium in the blood that are caused by cancer. In this case, the patient has a history of breast cancer and the head CT shows multiple skull metastases, indicating that the breast cancer has spread to the skull. This spread of cancer to the bone can lead to bone destruction, which releases calcium into the bloodstream, resulting in hypercalcemia.