How is Pagets disease of the bone diagnosed?
In addition to a complete medical history and physical examination, diagnostic procedures for Paget’s disease of the bone may include the following: • x-ray – a diagnostic test which uses invisible electromagnetic energy beams to produce images of internal tissues, bones, and organs onto film. • blood tests • a bone-specific alkaline phosphatase test – a test that involves the alkaline phosphatase levels (an enzyme found throughout the body) in the bone being measured; any condition of bone growth or an increased activity of bone cells, including Paget’s disease, will cause alkaline phosphatase levels to rise. • radionuclide bone scan – a nuclear imaging technique that uses a very small amount of radioactive material, which is injected into the patient’s bloodstream to be detected by a scanner. This test shows blood flow to the bone and cell activity within the bone.
