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Paget's disease of the tibia.
1Department of Orthopedic Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Journal of the Formosan Medical Association = Taiwan Yi Zhi
|August 12, 1999
Summary
This report details the first documented case of Paget's disease of the bone in Taiwan, a condition previously thought rare in Asia. Treatment with sodium chlodronate effectively managed the patient's symptoms and biochemical markers.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Orthopedics
- Rheumatology
Background:
- Paget's disease of the bone is a chronic disorder characterized by abnormal bone remodeling.
- The prevalence of Paget's disease in Asian populations is considered very low.
Observation:
- A 66-year-old Taiwanese woman presented with a decade of left leg pain and deformity.
- Initial investigations revealed elevated serum calcium and alkaline phosphatase, with radiographic evidence of tibial abnormalities.
Findings:
- Technetium 99m bone scan confirmed increased uptake in the affected tibia.
- Histological examination of a biopsy specimen definitively diagnosed Paget's disease of the bone.
- Elevated bone-specific alkaline phosphatase and urinary collagen N-telopeptide confirmed active disease.
Implications:
- This case highlights the importance of considering Paget's disease of the bone even in regions where it is perceived to be rare.
- Successful treatment with sodium chlodronate demonstrates therapeutic efficacy.
- Further epidemiological studies are warranted to ascertain the true prevalence in Asian populations.