Case Report
A 70-year-old male having advanced prostate cancer presenting with hypercalcemia and diffuse osteoblastic bone metastases: a case report
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* Corresponding author: Sheng-Hsiang Lin linsh01@gmail.com
1 Department of Family Medicine, Taipei County Hospital, Taipei county, Taiwan (ROC)
2 Department of Internal Medicine, Taipei County Hospital, Taipei county, Taiwan (ROC)
Cases Journal 2009, 2:54 doi:10.1186/1757-1626-2-54
Published: 14 January 2009Abstract
Background
Bony metastases were occasionally the initial presentations of malignancy. Overlooking of bony changes on radiographs in cancer patients with non-specific clinical symptoms may lead to delayed diagnosis.
Case presentation
We presented a 70-year-old male having hypercalcemia and diffuse osteoblastic bone metastases on routine plain films. Finally, prostate cancer was diagnosed with a prostate needle biopsy.
Conclusion
Although the modern radionuclide bone scanning is useful in diagnosis, osteoblastic bone changes are occasionally seen in plain films, which are frequently overlooked. To avoid delayed diagnosis, bony structures should be carefully examined in all plain-film radiographs.