Final answer:
Paget's disease is a disorder of the bone remodeling process that leads to bone deformities, fractures, and pain. Soft tissue signs of the disease include tophi, resulting in inflammation of the joints. Diagnosis involves imaging studies and lab tests, and symptoms can include pain, bone fractures, and deformities.
Step-by-step explanation:
Paget's disease is a disorder of the bone remodeling process that affects adults over age 40. It is characterized by overactive osteoclasts, which resorb more bone than is laid down. This leads to bone deformities, fractures, and pain.
Soft tissue signs of Paget's disease include the presence of tophi, which are areas of degraded or degenerated tissue at the bone joints. The degeneration of neighboring tissues causes inflammation of the joints.
Paget's disease can be diagnosed through imaging studies such as X-rays and bone scans, which may show bone deformities and areas of bone resorption. Elevated blood levels of alkaline phosphatase, an enzyme, are also common in people with this disease.
Symptoms of Paget's disease can include pain, bone fractures, and bone deformities in the pelvis, skull, spine, and legs. In the skull, the disease can cause headaches and hearing loss.