Electrolyte Disorders Associated with Cancer

Patients with malignancies commonly experience abnormalities in serum electrolytes, including hyponatremia, hypokalemia, hyperkalemia, hypophosphatemia, and hypercalcemia. In many cases, the causes of these electolyte disturbances are due to common etiologies not unique to the underlying cancer. However, at other times, these electrolyte disorders signal the presence of paraneoplastic processes and portend a poor prognosis. Furthermore, the development of these electrolyte abnormalities may be associated with symptoms that can negatively affect quality of life and may prevent certain chemotherapeutic regimens. Thus, prompt recognition of these disorders and corrective therapy is critical in the care of the patient with cancer.