Tumour induced osteomalacia

J Pak Med Assoc. 2015 Feb;65(2):220-2.

Abstract

Tumour-induced osteomalacia (TIO) is a rare paraneoplastic syndrome usually presenting with bone pain, fracture of bones and muscle weakness. It is caused by high serum levels of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF- 23), which is a hormone-regulating phosphate, and vitamin D. FGF-23 is secreted by several tumours, especially benign mesenchymal tumours which are very small and difficult to locate. There is a significant delay from onset of symptoms to the diagnosis of this entity dueto occult nature of this disease. We present a case of young male who presented with long history of progressively worsening muscular pain and weakness, rendering the patient confined to bed. Our aim of presenting this patient as a case report is to make physicians realise that any patient with unexplained muscular weakness and pain must undergo workup for TIO, including serum phosphate measurement, as this is a rare but potentially curable disease.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Fibroblast Growth Factor-23
  • Humans
  • Knee Joint / diagnostic imaging*
  • Knee Joint / pathology
  • Male
  • Neoplasms, Connective Tissue / complications*
  • Neoplasms, Connective Tissue / etiology
  • Osteomalacia
  • Paraneoplastic Syndromes / etiology*
  • Radionuclide Imaging
  • Soft Tissue Neoplasms / complications*

Supplementary concepts

  • Oncogenic osteomalacia