Etymed
hypocalcemia
Definition
A medical condition characterized by abnormally low levels of calcium in the blood
Clinical context
A 45-year-old woman presents to the emergency department with complaints of muscle twitching, numbness, and tingling in her fingers and around her mouth. She recently underwent a total thyroidectomy for papillary thyroid cancer. On examination, she has positive Chvostek's and Trousseau's signs. Her serum calcium level is 6.8 mg/dL, with normal magnesium and vitamin D levels. The patient's symptoms are consistent with hypocalcemia following thyroid surgery.
Mnemonic
CAUSES of hypocalcemia: 'Cats Always Make You Sneeze' - Calcium, Alcohol, Starvation, Pancreatitis, Other causes