Recalcitrant Hypocalcemia: Postsurgical Hypoparathyroidism Exacerbated by a Chyle Leak Treated With Octreotide

Background/ObjectiveTo report a case of recalcitrant post-surgical hypocalcemia caused by hypoparathyroidism complicated by a chyle leak and octreotide use.Case ReportA man in his 60s with a 4-month history of voice changes, 10-pound weight loss, and a right-sided neck mass presented with difficulty breathing for 1 week. He had a right laryngeal/hypopharyngeal mass, which was biopsied. Pathology results were positive for invasive squamous cell carcinoma. He underwent an extensive neck surgery, including total thyroidectomy. Postsurgical laboratory results revealed serum corrected calcium of 7.6 mg/dL (ref 8.0-10.2 mg/dL) and parathyroid hormone