Tumor Lysis Syndrome typically occurs within the first days of cancer treatment due to rapid cell breakdown. Which metabolic disturbance is NOT typically seen?

Tumor Lysis Syndrome typically occurs within the first days of cancer treatment due to rapid cell breakdown. Which metabolic disturbance is NOT typically seen?

• A. Hyperkalemia
• B. Hypophosphatemia
• C. Hyperuricemia
• D. Hypocalcemia

Answer: (B)

Tumor Lysis Syndrome results from rapid breakdown of malignant cells after therapy, releasing large amounts of potassium, phosphate, and nucleic acids into the bloodstream. This leads to high potassium (hyperkalemia), high phosphate (hyperphosphatemia), and high uric acid from purine breakdown (hyperuricemia). The extra phosphate binds calcium, causing calcium to drop in the blood (hypocalcemia). So the disturbances you typically see are hyperkalemia, hyperphosphatemia, hyperuricemia, and hypocalcemia. A low phosphate level would be unexpected, because phosphate is released in large amounts from lysed cells, not depleted.

Tumor Lysis Syndrome results from rapid breakdown of malignant cells after therapy, releasing large amounts of potassium, phosphate, and nucleic acids into the bloodstream. This leads to high potassium (hyperkalemia), high phosphate (hyperphosphatemia), and high uric acid from purine breakdown (hyperuricemia). The extra phosphate binds calcium, causing calcium to drop in the blood (hypocalcemia). So the disturbances you typically see are hyperkalemia, hyperphosphatemia, hyperuricemia, and hypocalcemia. A low phosphate level would be unexpected, because phosphate is released in large amounts from lysed cells, not depleted.