Hypercalcaemia in Malignant Disease

15 Points Per Correct Answer - No time limit  

1. What is hypercalcaemia? A blood calcium level above normal. A normal blood calcium level. A blood calcium level below normal. The level of calcium in the bones.

2. Which of the symptoms described is NOT typically associated with hypercalcaemia? Confusion. Delayed onset (over 3-6 months). Nausea and vomiting. Anorexia.

3. Hypercalcaemia is only found in patients with bone metastases. True False

4. What is an important site for calcium homeostasis (the maintenance of a normal level of calcium in the body)? Spleen. Muscle. Pancreas. Bone.

5. The two types of bone cells which regulate blood calcium levels are osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Which type of bone cell is responsible for the formation of new bone? Answer: (Osteoblast or osteoclast)

6. Which vitamin has a role to play in calcium regulation within the body? A D C E

7. For a person with malignant disease is it adequate to test simply for the total blood calcium level to determine if they are hypercalcaemic? Yes No

8. There are three main elements to treatment for hypercalcaemia: treatment of the underlying malignancy (where possible), medications to inhibit bone resorption and increase calcium excretion in the kidneys and what else? Exercise. Ultraviolet light treatment. Improved intake of vitamin D. Rehydration.

9. What type of drug treatment would be expected to correct hypercalcaemia? Antibiotic therapy. Anticoagulant therapy. Antidepressant therapy . Bisphosphonate therapy.

10. There are other drug treatments sometimes used in the treatment of hypercalcaemia to normalise the blood calcium level. One is calcitonin therapy, what is the other? Insulin. Opioids. Steroids. Laxatives.

11. Calcitonin therapy is given to supplement the natural hormone produced in the body to reduce calcium levels. Where in the body is calcitonin produced? Thyroid gland. Pancreas. Liver. Pituitary gland.

12. It can be difficult to conduct research into the effectiveness of hypercalcaemic treatments in malignant disease. What is a main reason? Patients don't like taking part. Patients often die before the end of the study. There are not enough patients with the condition. There are not enough researchers.

13. Do the kidneys have a limit on the amount of calcium they can excrete? Yes No

14. Once hypercalcaemia is corrected it will not recur. True False

15. What is a potential, albeit rare, complication of bisphosphonate therapy? Blindness. Dupuytren's contracture. The development of club feet. Osteonecrosis of the jaw.