Symptoms of Pagets Disease of Bone
How does Pagets Disease of Bone typically present?
PDB is typically diagnosed when elevated ALP or an abnormal radiograph (x-ray) is found incidentally in patients being evaluated for other reasons. Symptoms depend on the site and extent of involvement. Up to 30% to 40% of patients are symptomatic at diagnosis with the most common symptom being bone pain (80%). Frequently bone pain develops later in the disease course. The pain is characterized as a deep and aching pain that occurs with rest or activity and is often worse at night. Other symptoms can include joint pain (50%) from secondary OA (most commonly of knee, hip, or spine), bone deformities (e.g., tibial bowing, skull thickening), neurologic complications due to neural compression from enlarging bone, and spontaneous fractures most commonly of the femur, tibia, and humerus.