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In this Article

• Paget disease of the breast key points
• What is Paget disease of the breast?
• Who gets Paget disease of the breast?
• What causes Paget disease of the breast?
• What are the symptoms of Paget disease of the breast?
• How is Paget disease of the breast diagnosed?
• How is Paget disease of the breast treated?
• What is the prognosis for people with Paget disease of the breast?
• What research studies are under way on Paget disease of the breast?
• Patient Comments: Paget&39;s Disease of The Nipple - Symptoms
• Find a local Oncologist in your town
• Paget's Disease of The Nipple Index

Paget disease of the breast occurs in both women and men, but most cases occur in women. Approximately 1 to 4 percent of all cases of breast cancer also involve Paget disease of the breast. The average age at diagnosis is 57 years, but the disease has been found in adolescents and in people in their late 80s.

Doctors do not fully understand what causes Paget disease of the breast. The most widely accepted theory is that cancer cells from a tumor inside the breast travel through the milk ducts to the nipple and areola. This would explain why Paget disease of the breast and tumors inside the same breast are almost always found together.

A second theory is that cells in the nipple or areola become cancerous on their own. This would explain why a few people develop Paget disease of the breast without having a tumor inside the same breast. Moreover, it may be possible for Paget disease of the breast and tumors inside the same breast to develop independently.

The symptoms of Paget disease of the breast are often mistaken for those of some benign skin conditions, such as dermatitis or eczema. These symptoms may include the following:

• Itching, tingling, or redness in the nipple and/or areola
• Flaking, crusty, or thickened skin on or around the nipple
• A flattened nipple
• Discharge from the nipple that may be yellowish or bloody

Because the early symptoms of Paget disease of the breast may suggest a benign skin condition, and because the disease is rare, it may be misdiagnosed at first. People with Paget disease of the breast have often had symptoms for several months before being correctly diagnosed.