Phosphaturic mesenchymal tumors: radiological aspects and suggested imaging pathway

Radiol Med. 2021 Dec;126(12):1609-1618. doi: 10.1007/s11547-021-01412-1. Epub 2021 Aug 28.

Abstract

Phosphaturic mesenchymal tumors (PMTs) are rare mesenchymal neoplasms of soft tissue or bone origin that can give rise to a challenge in diagnostic imaging. These tumors are frequently associated with tumor-induced osteomalacia, also called oncogenic osteomalacia, which is a rare paraneoplastic syndrome characterized by ectopic secretion of fibroblast growth factor 23, a hormone that regulates serum phosphate level. PMTs show polymorphic features on both radiological findings and histological examination, causing problems in diagnosis owing to their similarity with other mesenchymal tumors. Thus, this paper aims to describe radiological aspects of PMTs and suggest an imaging pathway for accurate diagnosis throughout the evidence from the literature review.

Keywords: Fibroblast growth factor 23; Oncogenic osteomalacia; Phosphaturic mesenchymal tumors; Tumor-induced osteomalacia.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Diagnostic Imaging / methods*
  • Humans
  • Mesenchymoma / diagnostic imaging*
  • Mesenchymoma / pathology
  • Osteomalacia / diagnostic imaging*
  • Osteomalacia / pathology
  • Paraneoplastic Syndromes / diagnostic imaging*
  • Paraneoplastic Syndromes / pathology

Supplementary concepts

  • Oncogenic osteomalacia