Severe spontaneous acute tumor lysis syndrome and hypoglycemia in patient with germ cell tumor

Tumori. 2010 Nov-Dec;96(6):1040-3.

Abstract

Tumor lysis syndrome has been observed in patients with bulky, treatment-sensitive tumors, in particular hematological malignancies, especially after medical treatment (chemotherapy, corticosteroids, radiation, hormonal agents, and biological response modifiers). Tumor lysis syndrome has been observed also in solid malignancies and it very rarely occurs spontaneously. Tumor lysis syndrome-associated metabolic abnormalities include hyperuricemia, hyperphosphatemia, hyperkalemia, hypocalcemia and uremia. Severe hypoglycemia is another rare metabolic disorder, uncommonly associated with solid malignancies. The case described here is peculiar for the abrupt onset of these two rare conditions in a patient with a metastatic germ cell tumor.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Adult
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / analysis
  • Choriocarcinoma / blood
  • Choriocarcinoma / chemistry
  • Choriocarcinoma / complications*
  • Choriocarcinoma / pathology
  • Humans
  • Hypoglycemia / blood
  • Hypoglycemia / etiology*
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Keratins / analysis
  • Liver Neoplasms / complications
  • Liver Neoplasms / secondary
  • Lung Neoplasms / complications
  • Lung Neoplasms / secondary
  • Lymphatic Metastasis
  • Male
  • Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / blood
  • Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / chemistry
  • Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / complications*
  • Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / pathology
  • Placental Lactogen / analysis
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Testicular Neoplasms / blood
  • Testicular Neoplasms / chemistry
  • Testicular Neoplasms / complications*
  • Testicular Neoplasms / pathology
  • Tumor Lysis Syndrome / blood
  • Tumor Lysis Syndrome / etiology*
  • Vimentin / analysis
  • alpha-Fetoproteins / analysis

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Vimentin
  • alpha-Fetoproteins
  • Keratins
  • Placental Lactogen