Phaeochromocytoma and hypercalcaemia.

Introduction Phaeochromocytoma may occasionally induce hypercalcaemia. Case reports of correction of hypercalcaemia by surgical removal of the phaeochromocytoma indicate the importance of humoral mechanisms (Swinton, Clerkin and Flint, 1972; Kukreja et al., 1973). Kukreja et al. (1973) noted a pre-operative elevation of serum immuno-reactive parathyroid hormone (i-PTH) implying that hypercalcaemia was either the result of ectopic parathyroid hormone secretion or of stimulation of endogenous parathyroid function by a product arising from the tumour. A similar case is presented in which raised levels of calcium and parathyroid hormone in the blood returned to normal after surgical removal of a benign phaeochromocytoma.