Hypercalcemia in a patient with tuberculous mediastinal lymphadenopathy

Singapore Med J. 1991 Feb;32(1):87-9.

Abstract

We describe the case of a 48 year old Indian female with hypercalcemia due to tuberculosis. She presented with symptoms of hypercalcemia and chest radiographs showed bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy with normal lung fields. The diagnosis of tuberculosis was made histologically from biopsy of the enlarged hilar nodes. Her hypercalcemia resolved following one month of anti-tuberculous treatment. The prevalence of hypercalcemia in tuberculosis has been reported to be high in western series. There is, however, a paucity of local data on the subject. The presence of 1-alpha-hydroxylase-like activity in pulmonary alveolar macrophages with resulting increased formation of active vitamin D metabolites is the postulated mechanism of tuberculosis associated hypercalcemia.

MeSH terms

  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypercalcemia / diagnosis
  • Hypercalcemia / etiology*
  • Malaysia
  • Mediastinal Diseases / complications*
  • Mediastinal Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Mediastinal Diseases / therapy
  • Middle Aged
  • Radiography
  • Tuberculosis, Lymph Node / complications*
  • Tuberculosis, Lymph Node / diagnostic imaging
  • Tuberculosis, Lymph Node / therapy