Introduction: Atypical femoral fractures are atraumatic or minimally traumatic fractures and rare side effects of bone resorption inhibitors. Bone resorption inhibitors are frequently used in the treatment of prostate cancer.
Case presentation: A 62-year-old man complained of difficulty in walking and left lower limb pain. Androgen deprivation and denosumab therapy for prostate cancer-induced bone metastasis was initiated 27 months ago. Even though the prostate-specific antigen level did not increase, imaging studies indicated the possibility of bone metastasis. The patient underwent bone biopsy; however, no malignancy was detected. Afterward, he had a fall, causing a complete fracture in his left femur.
Conclusion: Atypical femoral fractures occasionally mimic typical imaging findings and outcomes of bone metastasis. This case is important for recognizing such cases.
Keywords: atypical femoral fractures; bone metastasis; bone resorption inhibitors; denosumab; prostate cancer.
© 2019 The Authors. IJU Case Reports published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of the Japanese Urological Association.