Abstract
Paget's disease of the bone (osteitis deformans) is rarely observed in Japan, and no more than 150 cases were reported.
We have experienced 11 cases with this disease during the past 12 years.
In our cases, the age ranged from 33 to 80 years. The onset of symptoms were in the third decade in one, in the fourth decade in one, in the sixth decade in three, in the seventh decade in five, and in the eighth decade in one. There were 7 female and 4 male patients with female predominance. The lesions were located in tibia (six lesions), in innominate bone (five), in lumbar vertebrae (two), in femur (one), and in skull (one). Four cases had polyostotic lesions, whereas seven cases showed monostotic lesion. In one patient, the progression was observed from initial monostotic to late polyostotic lesions. Two cases lacked subjective symptoms. Four cases were treated with calcitonin (calci-tonin from salmon for two, c. from eel for one, and porcine c. for one). In all of them, local pain and heat diminished and serum alkaline phosphatase level reduced to the normal level, however, after cessation of the medication the symptoms relapsed in some cases.
The etiology, pathophysiology, epidemiology, clinical symptoms, and treatments were also discussed.
