The oncological emergency case: paraneoplastic hypoglycemia in metastatic breast cancer - case report and brief review of the literature.

BACKGROUND Paraneoplastic hypoglycemia is a rare syndrome amoung tumorous diseases. It is often associated with a paraneoplastic secretion of 'big' insulin-like growth factor-II. METHODS We describe this syndrome in a 60-year-old patient with advanced breast cancer 8 years after primary diagnosis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION This non-islet cell tumor-induced hypoglycemia may be the only evidence for an otherwise clinically occult disease progression. Fast diagnosis and appropriate acute and causal treatment concepts should be part of oncological management.