A brain tumor that looked common but weakened her bones
Original title: Intracranial phosphaturic mesenchymal tumor mimicking meningioma and causing tumor-induced osteomalacia: a case report.
How far along is this research?
- Lab cells
- Animals
- Review
- Tested in people
This was tested in people. That is the most reliable kind of research we share.
This is a report about one patient, not a new treatment.
The short version
A woman's bone pain and broken hips came from a small brain tumor.
What was studied. Doctors report one case. A woman, 32 years old, had 2 years of bone pain, weak muscles, trouble walking, and broken hips with no injury. They used blood tests, urine tests, and scans to find the cause.
What they found. Her blood phosphate was very low, at 1.1 mg/dL. A hormone called FGF-23 was too high, so her kidneys lost phosphate. A small tumor at the front of her brain looked like a meningioma, a common kind of brain tumor. Surgery removed it, and her phosphate and FGF-23 went back to normal. Lab tests then showed it was a different kind of tumor.
What this means, and what it doesn't
What it could mean: Bone pain and odd fractures can come from a tumor that makes a hormone. If phosphate is very low, doctors can look for a hidden tumor. Taking the tumor out may fix the bone problem.
What it doesn't mean: This is one person's story, not a study of many people. It does not mean most brain tumors cause bone problems. This kind of tumor is rare. Nothing here is a new treatment, and it is not a cure. Your own care depends on your tests and your doctors.
Source: PubMed, September 17, 2026 · Read the original
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