A 61-year-old man presented with an 18-month history of musculoskeletal pain affecting the dorsolumbar spine, ribs and thighs, and a 6-month history of pain and swelling of the left foot. Examination showed rib tenderness, and mild swelling and tenderness of the left foot. The only abnormality detected on initial investigations was a raised alkaline phosphatase of level 266 U/l (normal range 37-170 U/l). Plain radiographs of the lumbar spine and foot were normal, but an isotope bone scan showed extensive hot spots in the left foot and in the ribs bilaterally, which were highly suggestive of metastases (fig 1).An extensive search for malignancy was negative. Serum levels of 25 hydroxyvitamin D 3 (25,OHD 3 ), parathyroid hormone and calcium were normal, but serum phosphate was consistently low (0.5-0.7 mmol/l). Further, vitamin D 3 analysis showed a low 1,25(OH) 2 D 3 (calcitriol) level of 16 pg/ml (normal range 20-50 pg/ml). This biochemical profile of normal 25,OHD 3 , calcium and parathyroid hormone levels with hypophosphataemia and low serum 1,25(OH) 2 D 3 is characteristic of oncogenic hypophosphataemic osteomalacia. Treatment with oral calcitriol and phosphate led to the complete resolution of symptoms and isotope bone scan abnormalities over 6-12 months. Almost 5 years later, we have not identified any tumour, and the patient remains on calcitriol and phosphate.
DISCUSSIONOncogenic hypophosphataemic osteomalacia is a rare paraneoplastic syndrome due to renal phosphate wasting.1 It is characterised by hypophosphataemia, excessive urinary phosphate excretion and reduced 1,25(OH) 2 D 3 but normal 25,OHD 3 levels. Although the exact mechanism causing this abnormality is not proven, studies have suggested that this biochemical picture is caused by a circulating phosphaturic factor released by the tumour, which inhibits 1a-hydroxylase, the enzyme responsible for the conversion of 25,OHD 3 into 1,25(OH) 2 D 3 . Fibroblast growth factor 23 may be implicated.2 A similar biochemical abnormality is found in X-linked hypophosphataemic osteomalacia of infancy.
3The traditional name for this disorder connoting its classification as a paraneoplastic phenomenon is slightly misleading, 3 as most of the tumours associated with oncogenic hypophosphataemic osteomalacia are benignandmesenchymal in nature. This disorder can, however, rarely be associated with carcinomas of epidermal and endodermal origin, 4 multiple myeloma and chronic lymphatic leukaemia. 5 A diligent search for an underlying tumour is therefore indicated. If identified, tumour resection should lead to complete symptomatic and biochemical improvement. However, if it is not possible to identify the culprit tumour, as in our patient, the patient will need pharmacological treatment with phosphate and calcitriol and long-term surveillance, as oncogenic hypophosphataemic osteomalacia may present several years before the tumour source is identified.