[Paget´s disease of the mandible: a differential diagnosis of the osteomyelitis of the jaw].

Paget´s disease of bone is a common, progressive disorder with uncertain etiology. It results in the replacement of normal skeletal areas with highly vascularized, low density bone. The most frequent symptom is bone pain, which is a result of periostal irritation due to increased metabolic activity. However, the disease may run without any symptoms. In these cases, an abnormal radiograph or an elevated serum alkaline phosphatase can indicate the disorder. Most cases are discovered accidentally. The average age of patients at the time of diagnosis is about 50 years. Male individuals are preferentially diseased. Paget´s disease affects either single bone (monostotic) or many bones (polyostotic). It typically involves the pelvis, femur and lumbar spine rather than skull and tibia. In the head and neck area, the skull is the most frequently affected localization. Lesions of the mandible and maxilla are less common. For the therapy of active Paget´s disease, antiresorptive agents like bisphosphonates are effective drugs. Additional treatment with analgesic drugs, antiinflammatory and antineuropathic agents is recommended. We present a case of polyostotic Paget´s disease of the mandible and of the thoracic skeleton.