Paget's disease

Alternative names:

osteitis deformans

Symptoms:

• bone pain (may be severe and persistent)
• joint pain or joint stiffness
• headache
• spinal curvature
• barrel-shaped chest
• bowing of the legs
• neck pain
• reduced height
• blindness
• hearing loss

Note: There may be no symptoms

Signs and tests:

Tests that may indicate Paget's disease include:

• a bone X-ray that shows increased bone density, thickening, bowing, and overgrowth
• a bone scan
• elevated serum alkaline phosphatase
• a CBC that shows anemia

This disease may also alter the results of the following tests:

• calcium (ionized)
• serum calcium
• ALP (alkaline phosphatase) isoenzyme
• a breast biopsy