Hypercalcaemia caused by a carcinoid tumour.

Humoral hypercalcaemia resulting from carcinoid tumours is uncommon. We report a case of hypercalcaemia because of excessive secretion of parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) in a 77-year-old woman with an advanced carcinoid tumour. Fibroblast growth factor 23 levels were also elevated. The hypercalcaemia responded to adjunctive therapy with long-acting octreotide analogue therapy, bisphosphonates and steroids. The role of PTHrP in humoral hypercalcaemia of malignancy, its association with neuroendocrine tumours, as well as the therapeutic use of somatostatin analogues are reviewed.