A 79-year-old white man with a history of progressive bone pain was admitted for evaluation 3 years ago. The patient reported that the pain began in both feet and gradually spread to the rest of the body over a 2-year period. Further assessment revealed multiple stress fractures in the feet. Bone mineral density test indicated osteopenia. Serial bone mineral density tests during the 2 years showed that his osteopenia was progressing. Results of several serum protein electrophoreses were essentially normal. His medical history, which included surgical removal of a cerebral aneurysm near the sella turcica and bacterial meningitis, suggested no pertinent etiologic factors. Physical examination revealed no clinically significant findings except unsteady gait. His serum phosphate concentrations declined from 2.5 to 1.8 mg/dL over the 2 years before admission. Laboratory test results at the time of admission are summarized in Table 1. The patient's phosphate concentration reached a nadir of 1.2 mg/dL at admission. His serum alkaline phosphatase was increased. Other notable abnormalities included low normal calcium, normal to borderline high parathyroid hormone (PTH), 2 and increased 24-h urine phosphate and calcium excretion. Other routine biochemical parameters [including ionized calcium, thyroid-stimulating hormone, and free thyroxine (T 4 )] were normal. The patient underwent a whole-body scan showing multiple bone lesions. Diagnostic imaging studies including x-ray, a computer axial tomography (CAT), and MRI of the lungs, abdomen, and pelvis were reported to be normal at admission.Based on the above findings, the patient was diagnosed with osteomalacia secondary to hypophosphatemia. He was then treated with several medications, including bisphosphonates, calcitriol, vitamin D, and calcium and phosphorus supplements. Vitamin D was given because his initial calcium and phosphate concentrations were low, and it was discontinued later following improvement of serum calcium concentrations. Despite substantial phosphorus replacement (250 mg phosphorus per tablet, 2 tablets 3 times a day), the hypophosphatemia continued, along with bone fragility and muscle weakness over the next 3 years, and his height decreased from 173 to 163 cm.
DISCUSSIONThe patient was evaluated further by several physicians from different disciplines 3 years after the first admission. This evaluation revealed extensive bone lesions and multiple rib fractures consistent with osteomalacia. In addition, he was found to have a soft tissue mass on the left posterior 10th rib, and computed tomography (CT) scan revealed cortical destruction of this rib. Follow-up MRI showed a mass suggesting expansile hemangiopericytoma of the left posterior thorax. CTguided fine-needle aspiration biopsy and histologic evaluation of the sample confirmed hemangiopericytoma. His plasma concentration of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) was increased (292 RU/mL; reference interval Յ180 RU/mL). A diagnosis of hemangiopericytoma with secondary tumor-induced osteomalacia and...