Paget’s Disease of the Breast

Chapter 159 Paget’s Disease of the Breast



INTRODUCTION



Description: Paget’s disease of the breast is a malignant process that involves the nipple and areola. Rarely, it may also involve the skin of the vulva.

Prevalence: Two percent of breast cancers.

Predominant Age: Menopausal and perimenopausal.

Genetics: No genetic pattern.


ETIOLOGY AND PATHOGENESIS



Causes: Thought to arise in the dermoepidermal junction from multipotent cells that can differentiate into either glandular or squamous cells.

Risk Factors: None known.


CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS



Signs and Symptoms



• Pruritic, red, eczematoid skin lesion, often associated with bleeding and crusting

• Almost always associated with infiltrating or intraductal carcinoma in deeper parts of the breast


DIAGNOSTIC APPROACH



Differential Diagnosis



• Eczema of the nipple

• Inflammatory breast cancer

• Chronic nipple irritation (jogger’s nipples)


Associated Conditions: Infiltrating or intraductal carcinoma.


Workup and Evaluation


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Jun 6, 2016 | Posted by in GYNECOLOGY | Comments Off on Paget’s Disease of the Breast

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