Paget's disease of bone. A scanning electron microscopic study

Abstract

Paget's disease is a human bone dysplasia with a probable viral origin. SEM studies on anorganic and acid etched biopsies confirm the osteocondensation and the structural and textural abnormalities (presence of woven bone). Corrosion casts revealed a complex scaffolding structure of vascular channels. On resting fronts, the domains are small and irregular and surfaces are different from human fetal woven bone. Mineralizing fronts extend largely on bone surfaces and present evidence of abnormal thickness. Resorption surfaces extend irregularly in multiple directions and are often found unusually deep. Irregularity of osteoclastic lacunae was also evidenced. This SEM study suggests that an osteoblastic qualitative dysfunction could be associated with the osteoclastic changes.