Vitamin D deficiency masquerading as metastatic cancer: a case series

Am J Med Sci. 2009 Apr;337(4):245-7. doi: 10.1097/MAJ.0b013e3181898525.

Abstract

Patients with vitamin D deficiency can present with nonspecific bone pain and findings on radionuclide bone scanning that may suggest metastatic malignancy. In this report, we present 4 such cases, in which clinicians initially pursued diagnoses of metastatic malignancy and did not consider vitamin D deficiency and osteomalacia in the differential diagnosis. Eventual recognition of vitamin D deficiency and provision of supplementation resulted in prompt resolution of symptoms for each patient. In appropriate cases, timely consideration of a diagnosis of vitamin D deficiency can mitigate the anxiety associated with undergoing an evaluation for cancer.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Diphosphonates / metabolism
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Neoplasms* / diagnosis
  • Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Organotechnetium Compounds / metabolism
  • Osteomalacia* / diagnosis
  • Osteomalacia* / etiology
  • Osteomalacia* / pathology
  • Pain / etiology*
  • Radionuclide Imaging
  • Vitamin D Deficiency* / complications
  • Vitamin D Deficiency* / diagnosis
  • Vitamin D Deficiency* / pathology

Substances

  • Diphosphonates
  • Organotechnetium Compounds
  • technetium 99m methylene bisphosphonate