Paget's disease of bone

ARTICLE SECTIONS

Introduction Signs and symptoms Causes Risk factors When to seek medical advice

Screening and diagnosis Complications Treatment Self-care Coping skills

Introduction

Paget's disease of bone is a condition that affects the normal biological processes of your bones. The disease is named after a mid-19th-century English surgeon, Sir James Paget, who also identified Paget's disease of the breast. Other than sharing his name, however, the two conditions are unrelated.

Even after you've reached your full height, your bones don't stop growing. Bone is living tissue engaged in a continual process of renewal. During this constant process called remodeling, old bone is removed and replaced by new bone. Paget's disease of bone disrupts this process. Early in the course of the disease, old bone starts breaking down faster than new bone can be built. Over time, your body responds by generating new bone at a faster than normal rate. This rapid remodeling produces bone that's softer and weaker than normal bone, which can lead to bone pain, deformities and fractures.

Paget's disease of bone becomes more common with age. It usually affects the skull, the spine and the bones in your arms, legs and pelvis. The disease may affect only one or two areas of your body, or may be widespread.

Often, people with Paget's disease of bone have no symptoms at all and may not require treatment other than regular monitoring. But if signs or symptoms are troublesome, treatment for Paget's disease of bone is available in the form of medications or surgery.

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Signs and symptoms