Write An Essay On Paget's Disease

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Paget’s disease, also known as osteitis deformans, is described as a bone disease “…characterized by bone destruction followed by a reparative process of overproduction of very dense yet soft bones that tend to fracture easily.”1 (Bontrager 138) Since this disease is rather common it is essential that a radiographic technologist be not only aware of its existence but also know which patients are most susceptible to it, where it manifests itself, what symptoms it presents, how it’s detected, how it appears radiographically, what exposure factors to use when dealing with it, and also have some idea of the prognosis of this disease.

Paget’s disease is considered to be “…one of the most common diseases of the skeleton.”,1 (pg 223) typically occurring in males aged 40 and older.1 (pg 138) Patients of European heritage are also described as being at a higher risk of being afflicted by this disease.3 (patient_info) The cause of Paget’s is currently unknown though researchers suspect that genetic factors or a viral infection early in life may be influential to its development.2 …show more content…
When a bone scan is performed in nuclear medicine it is used to look at the skeletal system and detect abnormalities ranging from metastasis to fractures.1 (737) “In a bone scan, radioactive material is injected into your body. This material travels to the spots on your bones most affected by Paget's disease, so they light up on the scan images.”4 (pagets_disease) If a bone scan or blood work are the exams that initially detect the possibility of a person having Paget’s, then x-rays of the afflicted areas are normally ordered to confirm the diagnosis.3 (patient_info) An AP and lateral x-ray of the part in question is usually ordered and the typical radiographic appearance can be described as “Mixed areas of sclerotic and cortical thickening along with radiolucent lesions; “cotton wool”
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Write An Essay On Paget's Disease

Paget’s disease shows either very few symptoms or none at all which often make the diagnosis of the disorder harder to identify. Most people never experience any symptoms and only realise they have Paget’s disease when a severe symptom arises or a doctor discovers the condition with X-rays intended for a different diagnosis. The most common and well known symptom in people who do succumb to them is bone pain, either in the joints or the bone itself. The bone is much softer and weaker than it should…

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