Progress in Medical Sciences. 2021;
5(1):(48-189)
Invasive Ductal Carcinoma of the Breast Presenting as Hypercalcemic Encephalopathy
Zohra R. Malik1 and Zareen Razaq2
Abstract
We hereby present the case of a 68-year-old woman who presented to our emergency
department with acute onset altered mental status. On evaluation, it was discovered that
her serum calcium levels were elevated. The rest of the labs were normal. Through further
testing and imaging studies, we found out that she had invasive ductal carcinoma leading
to hypercalcemia which was causing her altered sensorium. The diagnosis of hypercalcemic
encephalopathy was made with the primary culprit the ductal carcinoma of the breast.
Herein, we would like to highlight hypercalcemia as an important cause of encephalopathy.
With our report, we are trying to prove encephalopathy can be the first presentation of
ductal carcinoma of the breast.
