Body aches, tender bones and rapid loss of weight: a case report
2009

Case Report of Bone Metastases in a Young Male

Sample size: 1 publication Evidence: low

Author Information

Author(s): Vijay Hadda, Navil Vikram Kishore, Vaibhav Jain, Chopra Anita, Goel Ashish, Sood Rita

Primary Institution: All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India

Hypothesis

Can bone metastases present as tuberculosis in young patients?

Conclusion

Bone lesions that appear to be tuberculosis may actually be metastatic cancer, and treatment is often ineffective at this advanced stage.

Supporting Evidence

  • Bone metastases may be the first presentation of carcinoma in about 25% of patients.
  • Multiple lytic lesions are a common radiological finding.
  • Treatment is usually ineffective in advanced stages of metastatic disease.

Takeaway

A young man thought to have tuberculosis actually had cancer that spread to his bones, and he didn't get the right treatment in time.

Methodology

The case involved clinical examination, imaging studies, and biopsies to diagnose the condition.

Limitations

The diagnosis of malignancy was delayed due to initial misinterpretation of symptoms as tuberculosis.

Participant Demographics

30-year-old non-smoking male.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1757-1626-2-37

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