Small Cell Lung Cancer Presenting as Severe Thrombocytopenia and Refractory Hypokalemia
Joint Authors
LePar, Felice
Hughes, Lesley
Mandaliya, Rohan
Auerbach, Herbert
Source
Case Reports in Oncological Medicine
Issue
Vol. 2014, Issue 2014 (31 Dec. 2014), pp.1-4, 4 p.
Publisher
Hindawi Publishing Corporation
Publication Date
2014-05-15
Country of Publication
Egypt
No. of Pages
4
Main Subjects
Abstract EN
A 70-year-old female with a history of mild cirrhosis was referred by her primary care provider for a platelet count of 36,000/μL which had dropped from 47,000/μL in a week along with mild pain in extremities.
Serum potassium was low (2.9 mEq/L) in spite of the patient being recently started on potassium supplement on outpatient for hypokalemia.
Initially thrombocytopenia was attributed to cirrhosis.
However, platelet counts continued to drop to a nadir of 9000/μL in spite of several platelet transfusions.
Hypokalemia was refractory to potassium supplements.
Subsequent bone marrow biopsy revealed extensive marrow necrosis with a focus of small cell tumor cells of pulmonary origin.
CT scan of the chest showed a spiculated left lung mass.
The ACTH level was high, with normal rennin and aldosterone levels.
The patient likely had ectopic ACTH syndrome from small cell lung cancer.
She died within few days of diagnosis.
Severe thrombocytopenia and refractory hypokalemia can rarely be initial presentations of small cell lung cancer.
Thrombocytopenia should prompt an evaluation for bone marrow metastases and a search for undiagnosed systemic malignancy.
In severe cases of metastases, bone marrow necrosis can be present.
Refractory hypokalemia can be the sole presentation of ectopic ACTH production.
American Psychological Association (APA)
Mandaliya, Rohan& Hughes, Lesley& Auerbach, Herbert& LePar, Felice. 2014. Small Cell Lung Cancer Presenting as Severe Thrombocytopenia and Refractory Hypokalemia. Case Reports in Oncological Medicine،Vol. 2014, no. 2014, pp.1-4.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-505328
Modern Language Association (MLA)
Mandaliya, Rohan…[et al.]. Small Cell Lung Cancer Presenting as Severe Thrombocytopenia and Refractory Hypokalemia. Case Reports in Oncological Medicine No. 2014 (2014), pp.1-4.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-505328
American Medical Association (AMA)
Mandaliya, Rohan& Hughes, Lesley& Auerbach, Herbert& LePar, Felice. Small Cell Lung Cancer Presenting as Severe Thrombocytopenia and Refractory Hypokalemia. Case Reports in Oncological Medicine. 2014. Vol. 2014, no. 2014, pp.1-4.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-505328
Data Type
Journal Articles
Language
English
Notes
Includes bibliographical references
Record ID
BIM-505328