Paget’s disease of bone disrupts the normal cycle of bone renewal, causing bones to become weakened and possibly deformed. Paget’s disease of bone can affect one or several bones. Commonly affected areas include the pelvis, spine and skull.

Bone cells regenerate in a similar way to skin – old bone is removed and replaced by new bone. This is known as bone remodelling.

In Paget’s disease of bone, something goes wrong with the osteoclast cells and they start to absorb bone at a much faster rate than usual.