Paget's disease of bone

Paget's disease of bone is a relatively common condition in the UK affecting up to 5% of the population over the age of 55 years with particularly high prevalence in the North West of England. The majority of those affected are asymptomatic. Its precise cause remains unknown, and until recently, choice of treatment of this sometimes painful and debilitating disease has been limited. In this article, we review various aspects of this disease, concentrating particularly on recent advances in our understanding of its aetiology and its treatment.