endocrine effects

Last reviewed 01/2018

  • hypercalcaemia:
    • occurs in 6-7% of tumours
    • usually the hypercalcaemia of malignancy
    • in squamous cell carcinoma, may be due to PTH-like peptides

  • dilutional hyponatraemia:
    • occurs in 10% of small cell carcinoma
    • due to ADH-like peptides

  • Cushing's syndrome:
    • ectopic ACTH-like peptide is commonly produced by small cell tumours but is symptomatic in less than 1% of cases

  • hyperpigmentation due to ectopic MSH production.

  • clubbing:
    • occurs in more than 50% of squamous cell tumours
    • unusual in small cell tumours

  • hypertrophic pulmonary osteoarthropathy

  • gynaecomastia