Phosphaturic mesenchymal tumor, nonphosphaturic variant, causing fatal pulmonary metastasis

Hum Pathol. 2013 Nov;44(11):2614-8. doi: 10.1016/j.humpath.2013.04.027. Epub 2013 Aug 16.

Abstract

Phosphaturic mesenchymal tumors of the mixed connective tissue type (PMT-MCTs) are rare neoplasms, most of which are benign and cause tumor-induced osteomalacia because of overproduction of a phosphaturic hormone, fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23). This entity may have been unrecognized or misdiagnosed as other mesenchymal tumors, such as giant cell tumor, hemangiopericytoma, and osteosarcoma. Ten percent of these tumors, without phosphaturia, were diagnosed only by their histologic features. We report here the first case of malignant PMT-MCT, nonphosphaturic variant, resulting in fatal multiple lung metastases. Chondromyxoid matrix with "grungy" calcification, multinucleated giant cell proliferation, and expression of FGF23 mRNA (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) and fibroblast growth factor 23 protein (immunohistochemistry) were seen in the primary and recurrent tumors of the right foot. The lung metastases showed flocculent calcification and FGF23 protein expression as well as giant cell proliferation. This unique case highlights the need for careful histologic assessment of PMT-MCTs, especially the nonphosphaturic variant, and the need for recognition of its rare malignant behavior.

Keywords: FGF23; Giant cells; Phosphaturic mesenchymal tumors of the mixed connective tissue type; Pulmonary metastasis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Calcinosis
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Fibroblast Growth Factor-23
  • Fibroblast Growth Factors / metabolism
  • Foot / pathology*
  • Giant Cells / pathology
  • Humans
  • Hypophosphatemia, Familial
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Lung / pathology
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology
  • Lung Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Lung Neoplasms / surgery
  • Mesenchymoma / metabolism
  • Mesenchymoma / pathology*
  • Mesenchymoma / secondary
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / metabolism
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / pathology*
  • Neoplasms, Connective Tissue / metabolism
  • Neoplasms, Connective Tissue / pathology*
  • Neoplasms, Connective Tissue / secondary
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Neoplasm / genetics
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Soft Tissue Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Soft Tissue Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Soft Tissue Neoplasms / surgery

Substances

  • FGF23 protein, human
  • RNA, Messenger
  • RNA, Neoplasm
  • Fibroblast Growth Factors
  • Fibroblast Growth Factor-23