UVA Family Medicine Practice Test

The mnemonic 'CHIMPANZEES' is used to remember the causes of secondary hypercalcemia. This mnemonic outlines various conditions that can lead to elevated calcium levels in the blood due to processes other than primary hyperparathyroidism. Each letter in 'CHIMPANZEES' corresponds to a specific cause, helping to recall a variety of related disorders, such as malignancies, medications, and endocrine disorders, that can contribute to secondary hypercalcemia.

Understanding secondary hypercalcemia is essential as it often requires different management strategies compared to primary disorders of calcium metabolism, like primary hyperparathyroidism. Recognizing these causes can aid in diagnosis and treatment decisions in clinical practice, reinforcing the importance of this mnemonic in the context of family medicine and general medical education.