Hypercalcemia of malignancy: Part I.

Digital Object Identifier: 10.1188/04.CJON.209-210 Hypercalcemia is a metabolic condition that occurs when the serum calcium level rises above the normal range of 9–11 mg/dl (Myers, 2001; Smith, 2000). It is a complex metabolic oncologic emergency that can be life threatening. This column is the first of a two-part series about hypercalcemia of malignancy (HCM). Part I focuses on the pathophysiologic mechanisms of hypercalcemia and includes questions about calculating the corrected serum calcium level based on the patient’s serum albumin level. Part II, which will be published in the June 2004 issue, will focus on patient assessment, management, and nursing implications of HCM.