The Calcium Conundrum: Hypercalcemia of Unknown Etiology

Alp S Kahveci; Lindsay Moy; Mohamed M Eletrebi; Brittany Bettendorf

doi:10.7759/cureus.91200

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The Calcium Conundrum: Hypercalcemia of Unknown Etiology

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

The Calcium Conundrum: Hypercalcemia of Unknown Etiology

Alp S Kahveci, Lindsay Moy, Mohamed M Eletrebi and Brittany Bettendorf

Curēus (Palo Alto, CA), Vol.17(8), e91200

08/28/2025

DOI: 10.7759/cureus.91200

PMCID: PMC12476285

PMID: 41024908

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Abstract

Hypercalcemia is a common clinical finding with a wide variety of clinical presentations and etiologies. The differential is broad and includes hyperparathyroidism, malignancy, medication adverse effects, endocrinopathies, and a variety of granulomatous diseases. We present the case of an 84-year-old woman with severe parathyroid hormone-independent hypercalcemia and elevated 1,25-OH Vitamin D. Non-necrotizing granulomas were identified on bone marrow biopsy. After an exhaustive workup for granulomatous disease, the patient was felt to have sarcoidosis isolated to the bone marrow and started on prednisone to suppress 1-alpha hydroxylase activity.

Details

Title: Subtitle: The Calcium Conundrum: Hypercalcemia of Unknown Etiology
Creators: Alp S Kahveci - University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
Lindsay Moy - University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
Mohamed M Eletrebi - University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
Brittany Bettendorf - University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Curēus (Palo Alto, CA), Vol.17(8), e91200
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.91200
PMID: 41024908
PMCID: PMC12476285
NLM abbreviation: Cureus
ISSN: 2168-8184
eISSN: 2168-8184
Language: English
Date published: 08/28/2025
Academic Unit: Immunology; Internal Medicine
Record Identifier: 9984958608402771

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