An irregular thickening and softening of the bones of the skull, the pelvis, and the extremities. It is most common in adults older than 50. The bones most commonly affected by Paget disease are the hip bones and shin bones. The thighbone, skull, spine, and collarbone are often involved as well. As a result of the disease, these bones become enlarged and deformed and are easily fractured. Bone pain is the most common symptom. The chronic aching sensation tends to worsen at night. The affected areas may feel warm and tender. When Paget disease affects the skull bones, it may cause deafness. Increased blood flow through the diseased bones may strain the heart, which can cause heart failure. Rarely, a bone tumor develops as a result of this disease.
A chronic disease of bones, occurring in the elderly and most frequently affecting the skull, backbone, pelvis, and long bones. Affected bones become thickened and their structure disorganized: X-rays reveal patchy sclerosis. Severe continuous pain may result, which is relieved by a prolonged course of thyrocalcitonin injections.
A prevalent condition seen in middle-aged and older individuals is marked by an interruption in bone formation. The impacted bones become frail, expanded, thickened, and misshapen. This condition is occasionally referred to as osteitis deformans, also known as Paget’s disease.
Paget’s disease typically impacts areas such as the pelvis, skull, collarbone, vertebrae, and the lengthy bones of the leg. Under normal circumstances, bone health is maintained through a balance between cells breaking down old bone tissue and those producing new tissue. Yet, in the case of Paget’s disease, this equilibrium is offset. The condition is believed to originate from a viral infection and may have a hereditary component.
Many times, there are no noticeable symptoms. However, when symptoms are present, the most frequent ones include bone pain and deformities, particularly a bowing of the legs. Bones impacted by this condition are more prone to breaking.
Alterations in the skull can result in leontiasis ossea, a deformation of the facial bones giving a lion-like appearance. This can also lead to harm to the bones in the inner ear, potentially causing conditions like deafness, tinnitus (ear ringing), vertigo (a feeling of spinning), or headaches.
When the disease impacts the spine, swollen vertebrae might exert pressure on the spinal cord, leading to pain and occasionally leg paralysis. When the pelvis is involved, it could lead to intense hip joint arthritis.
In some instances, bone cancer can arise. In uncommon situations, when numerous bones are affected, the heightened blood circulation through these bones might lead to heart failure.
The diagnosis of Paget’s disease is made using X-rays, displaying regions of porous and dense bone, along with blood tests that indicate irregular levels of substances associated with bone creation and degradation.
Many individuals don’t require treatment or simply need pain-relieving medications. For more intense cases, medications like bisphosphonates or calcitonin might be recommended to regulate bone breakdown and regeneration rates. While these drugs won’t rectify current deformities, they can decelerate the disease’s advancement. Surgical intervention might be necessary for rectifying deformities or addressing arthritis.
A type of neurosis that emerges in an individual who is consciously or unconsciously seeking compensation. It’s also referred to as Erichsen’s disease or railway spine.