Muhammad Qamar Masood, Nanik Ram, Syed Ahsan Ali.
Tumour induced osteomalacia.
J Pak Med Assoc Jan ;65(2):220-2.

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 due to 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.

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