Tumor-induced hypercalcemia and leukocytosis in lung cancer

Purpose: Hypercalcemia and leukocytosis are relatively common paraneoplastic syndromes in patients with lung cancer, sometimes occurring simultaneously. To determine the relative frequency and prognostic influence of hypercalcemia and leukocytosis in patients with lung cancer, we reviewed our clinical records. Patients and Methods: We reviewed the clinical records of 623 lung cancer patients who were initially diagnosed as lung cancer at Okayama University Hospital between 1980 and 1996. Results: Fifty-one (8.2%) patients developed hypercalcemia and 6 (0.96%) demonstrated leukocytosis. Median survival time (MST) in patients with hypercalcemia (4.4 months) or leukocytosis (2.9 months) was significantly shorter than in all lung cancer patients (MST 9.5 months, p < .001) or stage IV lung cancer. In particular, survival time in 2 patients with concomitant manifestation of hypercalcemia and leukocytosis was extremely short (1.0 months, 1.5 months). Conclusion: These results suggest that both hypercalcemia and leukocytosis are poor prognostic factors in patients with lung cancer.