Spinal phosphaturic mesenchymal tumors: a rare etiology causing tumor-induced osteomalacia-a review of experience at a UK tertiary referral center and literature review

Progressive bone pain caused by a phosphaturic mesenchymal tumor in the left femur: a case report and literature review

Phosphaturic mesenchymal tumors (PMTs) are extremely rare mesenchymal tumors of soft tissue and bone that cause tumor-induced osteomalacia (TIO). Some of these tumors are completely asymptomatic and may grow undetected unless they become large enough to cause pain or discomfort. This type of tumor is crucial to diagnose in patients being treated for phosphate metabolism disorders and are a rare reason why patients seek medical help owing to pain. Here, we report the details of a patient with progressive bone pain caused by a PMT originating in the left femur.

Phosphaturic mesenchymal tumor: management and outcomes of ten patients treated at a single institution

BACKGROUND

Phosphaturic mesenchymal tumor (PMT) is a rare tumor that causes tumor-induced osteomalacia. Patients present with non-specific symptoms secondary to renal phosphate wasting and decreased bone mineralization. We sought to assess: (1) What are the common presenting features, laboratory and imaging findings, histologic findings of phosphaturic mesenchymal tumors? (2) What are the available treatment strategies for phosphaturic mesenchymal tumors and their long-term outcomes in terms of local recurrence and symptom control after treatment?

METHODS

We retrospectively identified patients with a histologic diagnosis of PMT located in the axial or appendicular skeleton, or surrounding soft tissues. A total of 10 patients were finally included in our study.

RESULTS

Median tumor size was 1.9 cm (range, 1.1 to 6.1) and median time from symptom onset to diagnosis was 3 years (range, 0.5 to 15 years). All patients but one presented with hypophosphatemia (median 1.9 mg/dL, range 1.2 to 3.2). Pre-operative FGF-23 was elevated in all cases (median 423.5 RU/mL, range 235 to 8950). Six patients underwent surgical resection, three were treated percutaneously (radiofrequency ablation or cryoablation), and one refused treatment. Only one patient developed local recurrence and no patients developed metastatic disease. At last follow-up, nine patients showed no evidence of disease and one was alive with disease.

CONCLUSION

Phosphaturic mesenchymal tumor is a rare tumor presenting with non-specific symptoms. Surgery is the standard treatment when negative margins can be achieved without significant morbidity. In patients with small tumors in surgically-inaccessible areas, radiofrequency ablation or cryoablation can be performed successfully.

Preoperative evaluation and orthopedic surgical strategies for tumor-induced osteomalacia

Tumor-induced osteomalacia (TIO), also known as oncogenic osteomalacia, is very rare, with about 1000 reported cases globally. Removing most TIO culprit tumors requires the evaluation and intervention of orthopedic doctors. However, orthopedic doctors often have a poor understanding of the optical treatment of TIO due to its rarity. In addition, most TIO patients lack specific clinical manifestations. Also, the clinical localization and qualitative diagnosis of TIO are difficult and thus can easily be misdiagnosed and mistreated. Furthermore, the true incidence rate of TIO may be underestimated. Although many breakthroughs have been made in exploring the pathogenesis, clinical diagnosis, and treatment of TIO, rational and standardized orthopedic surgical treatment experience summary and sorting for TIO patients are lacking. In this article, the recent experience and progress in the field of orthopedic surgical treatment for TIO globally have been summarized, providing a theoretical basis and new clinical practice guidance for the rational treatment of TIO patients.