Acquired hypophosphatemic rickets or osteomalacia, which is reversible after resection of tumors of soft tissues or bone (oncogenous rickets), is a rare syndrome in adults1,2 and has been reported sporadically in children.3,4 The tumor is usually detectable at the time of diagnosis of rickets. We report a case in which the tumor was found as late as four years after onset of the clinical symptoms; we also report the alterations observed in the vitamin D metabolites.
Report of a Case.—In December 1978, a 13-year-old boy was admitted because of a two-year history of rickets and progressive muscular weakness. Family history was noncontributory. The child was well until the age of 11 years, when he began to complain of difficulty in climbing stairs. During hospitalization elsewhere, a diagnosis of myopathy and rickets was made, and cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) was prescribed.
At admission to our department, physical examination