Hypercalcemia associated with dysgerminoma and elevation of calcitriol: A case report and review of the literature

Abstract

We report on the case of a patient with dysgerminoma, a rare germ cell tumor, which showed hypercalcemia with an elevation of 1α,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (calcitriol). A 27-year-old nulliparous woman presented with hypercalcemia during the examination of a right ovarian tumor with an elevation of calcitriol, lactate dehydrogenase, and alkaline phosphatase. Fractional excretion of calcium was elevated, and intact parathyroid hormone was suppressed. After undergoing right salpingo-oophorectomy, the patient’s serum calcium and calcitriol returned to the normal range within a week. A literature search was conducted on the topic by reviewing databases for dysgerminoma showing hypercalcemia. We identified 14 patients from the literature and performed a pooled analysis, including the results of our case. However, most cases lack data that can help investigate the potential association between parathyroid hormone, parathyroid hormone-related protein, calcitriol, and phosphorus in hypercalcemia. Thus, more case reports that include additional information are required to fully elucidate the mechanism of hypercalcemia associated with dysgerminoma.