Osteitis deformans
Special Characteristics
- Bones grow too large and weak
- Most commonly found in the spine, skull, pelvis, and legs
- More common in males than females and older than younger
Causes
- Disruption in the process of new bone removing and replacing old bone
- Exact cause unknown, though scientists have found a correlation between Paget's Disease of Bone and select genotypes
Signs and Symptoms
- Pain
- Enlarged bones
- Broken bones
- Damaged cartilage in joints
- May result in bone growth deformities, such as bowed legs
Diagnosis
- X-rays and blood tests
- Presence on elevated alkaline phosphatase
Treatment
- Medicines and surgery
- Biophosphonates help to strengthen bones weakened by osteoporosis
- Maintaining a healthy habit of exercise and diet
References
“Cotton Wool” Appearance of Paget's Disease. (n.d.). The New England Journal of Medicine. Retrieved October 13, 2013, from http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMicm0912945
Bowed legs from Paget's disease. (n.d.). WebMD - Better information. Better health.. Retrieved October 13, 2013, from http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/bowed-legs-from-pagets-diseasePaget's Disease of Bone: MedlinePlus. (n.d.). National Library of Medicine - National Institutes of Health. Retrieved October 13, 2013, from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/pagetsdiseaseofbone.htmlPaget's disease of bone - MayoClinic.com. (n.d.). Mayo Clinic. Retrieved October 13, 2013, from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/pagets-disease-of-bone/DS00485 