Diagnosis and treatment of Paget's disease of bone

Am Fam Physician. 2002 May 15;65(10):2069-72.

Abstract

Paget's disease of bone (also known as osteitis deformans) is a nonmalignant disease involving accelerated bone resorption followed by deposition of dense, chaotic, and ineffectively mineralized bone matrix. The origin of the disease is unknown, and it is frequently asymptomatic; however, the patient may present with symptoms depending on the bones involved. The most common symptom is pain in the affected bone; neurologic, hearing, vision, cardiac, and oncologic complications are possible. Diagnosis is primarily made by radiographs. Bisphosphonates are the most common treatment.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Calcitonin / therapeutic use
  • Diphosphonates / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Osteitis Deformans* / diagnosis
  • Osteitis Deformans* / etiology
  • Osteitis Deformans* / therapy

Substances

  • Diphosphonates
  • Calcitonin