Report of Missed Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Presenting as Pathological Tibial Fracture

Pathological fractures usually occur in patients with known malignancies, though pathological fracture may be the first sign of cancer. Malignant pathological fractures most commonly represent metastatic lung, breast, kidney, thyroid, or prostate cancer and typically occur in the spine, pelvis, femur, and humerus. We present the case of a 71-year-old female with an atraumatic tibial fracture in which further imaging was not pursued. Five months later, she was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Pathological proximal tibial fracture is an exceedingly rare presentation of lymphoma; however, diagnostic delay could likely have been avoided if a thorough workup had been pursued. Our case highlights the importance of careful examination of all patients presenting with a low-energy fracture, particularly when constitutional symptoms suggestive of cancer are present. All patients with pathological fractures should receive a thorough physical examination that includes lymph node palpation.