Oncogenic osteomalacia secondary to glomus tumor

Background

Tumor-induced osteomalacia (TIO), also known as oncogenic osteomalacia, is a rare and acquired paraneoplastic syndrome. TIO is characterized by hypophosphatemia, increased urinary phosphate excretion and low calcitriol levels due to FGF23, secreted by the tumor (1). This ultimately results in hypophosphatemic osteomalacia and can have variable manifestations ranging from diffuse musculoskeletal pain to bone fractures. Despite obvious diagnosis among patients presenting with aforementioned clinical and biochemical findings, the subsequent localization of mesenchymal tumor often remains challenging. This results in a significant delay in the diagnosis and treatment of these patients. Herein, we are presenting a case of TIO caused by glomus tumor localized in the right sinus cavity.

Case presentation

A 39-year-old woman with a past medical history of chronic sinusitis presented with progressively worsening generalized body pain and muscle weakness of 8 months duration. Patient was afebrile and hemodynamically stable on presentation. On musculoskeletal examination, she had decreased muscle strength in bilateral upper and lower extremities. Rest of the physical examination was unremarkable except for the presence of a congenital cleft palate.

Investigation

Laboratory workup revealed elevated alkaline phosphatase 603 U/L (44–147 U/L), low serum phosphate 1.5 mg/dL (3.5–5.0 mg/dL), normal serum calcium 8.9 mg/dL (8.3–10.4 mg/dL), normal 25-hydroxyvitamin D 32 ng/dL (30–100 ng/dL), elevated 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 62 g/mL (20–45 pg/mL), elevated intact PTH level 99.01 pg/mL (8–74 pg/mL), high normal 24 h urinary phosphate levels 1100 mg/dL, and elevated FGF23 level 128 RU/mL (<108 RU/mL). Complete blood count was within normal range. This is summarized in Table 1. Bone densitometry revealed a normal bone density and parathyroid scintigraphy was negative for adenoma. Considering clinical symptoms along with biochemical evidence of phosphate wasting as confirmed by low TRP and an unsuppressed FGF23 levels, a decision to consider oncogenic osteomalacia as an underlying cause for patients’ symptoms was pursued. Whole-body bone scan demonstrated an increased radiotracer uptake in the elbows, spine, sacroiliac joints, knees, ankles and multiple ribs suggestive of an inflammatory process. MRI of paranasal sinuses revealed a large soft tissue mass completely occupying the right frontal, ethmoid, maxillary and sphenoid sinuses and expanding into the right nasal cavity suggestive of sinonasal polyposis (Fig. 1). ^99mTc-Octreotide scan showed an abnormal area of increased uptake in the nasopharynx.

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MRI of paranasal sinus revealed a large soft tissue mass completely occupying the right frontal, ethmoid, maxillary and sphenoid sinuses and expanding in to the right nasal cavity and deviating nasal septum towards the left side.

Citation: Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism Case Reports 2021, 1; 10.1530/EDM-20-0202

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Treatment

The sinonasal mass was resected and immune histochemical studies showed positive S100 and negative CD34, CK, SMA, LCA, SAL4 and Caldesmin suggestive for glomus tumor. Ki67 index was 3–4%.

Outcome and follow-up

Postoperatively, phosphate levels normalized to 3 mg/dL on day 7. At 3 months follow-up visit, FGF23 was 10 RU/mL, PTH was 40 pg/mL, total calcium was 8.9 mg/dL, phosphate was 3.4 mg/dL, and 25-hydroxyvitamin D 32 ng/mL, which were all within normal limits.

Discussion

Oncogenic osteomalacia, also known as 'tumor-induced osteomalacia (TIO)' is a paraneoplastic syndrome resulting in biochemical and pathological changes similar to hypophosphatemic rickets (1). Glomus tumor as a cause of tumor-induced osteomalacia is an extremely rare entity with only a limited number of published case reports. It is a mesenchymal tumor composed of modified smooth muscle cells arising from the glomus body, a specialized arteriovenous anastomosis that regulates heat in the skin. Glomus tumor is predominantly cutaneous, most commonly in the subungual region of the finger but can occur anywhere in the body, however, they are usually benign with very rare malignant variability (2).

The mesenchymal tumors secrete fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23). Excess FGF23 acts via FGF receptor 1 (FGFR1) on the kidneys and results in the decreased reabsorption of phosphate and decreased production of 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D ultimately resulting in hypophosphatemia (3). This results in the biochemical finding of hypophosphatemia, low 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D and increased urinary phosphate excretion along with the clinical symptoms of osteomalacia characterized by bone and muscle pain, muscle weakness, and fractures (4). In the majority of cases of oncogenic osteomalacia, FGF23 is high but it can also be inappropriate in the normal range (5). In our patient, FGF23 was inappropriately high, in the presence of concomitant hypophosphatemia and increased urinary phosphate excretion which led us to consider oncogenic osteomalacia as an underlying cause. As simultaneous plasma and urine values are more accurate when assessing fractional excretion of any molecule, particularly ones that can vary throughout the day, TmP/GFR could not be successfully calculated in our case as we only had 24 h urine phosphate and creatinine values but not spot urine data. Nevertheless, a successful surgical outcome as suggested by rapid resolution of clinical symptoms, increase in phosphate level and drop in FGF23 levels after surgery retrospectively supports oncogenic osteomalacia as the underlying cause in our patient. Typically, these patients have normal PTH and calcium levels, however, with prolonged disease and treatment, they can develop secondary hyperparathyroidism resulting in elevated PTH levels (6).

Once the diagnosis is established, detection and localization of the causative tumor are the most important next step. As these mesenchymal tumors tend to be small in size, have an indolent course and are mysteriously hidden in unusual places, these are often difficult to localize on conventional imaging modalities (7). Imaging modalities involving whole-body MRI, ¹⁸F-FDG-PET/CT, octreotide scan, and ⁶⁸Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT have been successfully used to localize these tumors. One study compared ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT and ⁶⁸Ga DOTATATE PET/CT and suggested ⁶⁸Ga DOTATATE PET/CT be superior to ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT in diagnosing TIO and recommended to consider ⁶⁸Ga DOTATATE PET/CT as an initial diagnostic test for localization studies (8, 9). Despite these approaches, the success rates of tumor identification remain to be 65–80%. Furthermore, due to this difficulty in tumor detection, there is often a significant delay between symptom onset and treatment of TIO (10).

Following localization of the tumor, the choice of treatment is the surgical resection of the tumor with a clear surgical margin to prevent tumor recurrence. FGF23 has a short half-life of approximately 45  min and hence surgical cure can be determined by a drop in FGF23 level postoperatively (11). Serum phosphate levels normalize between 5 and 10 post-operative days and the majority of patients feel better within days to weeks of tumor removal resulting in rapid and complete biochemical and clinical cures (7). Although the bone starts to heal immediately, it may vary depending on the severity of the disease process and may take years for significant recovery. Although late recurrence has been reported, it is extremely rare and can be seen with malignant mesenchymal tumors (12, 13).

When the tumor cannot be localized or is not surgically resectable, medical therapy is considered. Historically, phosphate and vitamin D supplementation used to be the main stay of treatment, however, recently Burosumab has become the preferred form of therapy and based on ongoing open-label Phase 2 study, it was FDA approved in June 2020 for use among patients with TIO. It has been shown to improve bone turnover markers and parameters of osteomalacia on bone biopsy. Furthermore, it also improves ambulation, reduces pain and results in sustained normalization of phosphate levels among treated patients (14). The goal of treatment among these patients with Burosumab or with phosphate and vitamin D supplementation is to achieve a serum phosphate in the lower end of the age-appropriate normal range.

Declaration of interest

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the research reported.

Funding

Funding for this case report was provided by the Education Department of Pikeville Medical Center, Pikeville, KY.

Patient consent

Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for the publication of submitted article.

Author contribution statement

S H, M D, M K, K V, M H D, I N, M N, M A, B H were directly involved in patient care and management. M K and R R were directly involved in writing the manuscript and literature reviews. K A helped with the diagnosis and treatment of the patient as well as edited the manuscript.