Topic: Hyponatremia and Cancer

Hyponatremia is the most frequent electrolyte and body fluid balance disturbance observed in patients with cancer-related conditions. The incidence of hyponatremia in malignancy may be underestimated with the prevalence varying greatly depending on the population, clinical setting, prevalence and type of cancer, treatment regimen and serum sodium concentration cut-off point. Hyponatremia is considered an unfavourable prognostic factor in patients with cancer and the differential diagnosis may be challenging. Hyponatremia in patients with cancer is often the result of a series of symptoms/factors so that standard treatment algorithms/approaches may not always be appropriate in the oncology setting. It is important that cancer therapy can commence or continue without undue risk to the patient while elderly patients and those receiving palliative care may also require special consideration. SIADH is most commonly found in patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC, 11%-15%), but it has also been reported in 3% of patients with head and neck cancer as well as other solid tumors and hematological malignancies. The degree of hyponatremia and its normalization could modify the outcome of hyponatremic cancer patients.

Hyponatremia, cancer, SIAD

30 Sep 2019