Paget's disease of the breast

ARTICLE SECTIONS

Definition
Symptoms
Causes
Risk factors

When to seek medical advice
Tests and diagnosis
Treatments and drugs
Prevention

Definition

Paget's disease of the breast is a rare form of breast cancer, accounting for less than 5 percent of all breast cancers. Paget's disease of the breast starts in the breast ducts and extends to the skin of the nipple and to the dark circle of skin (areola) around the nipple. Paget's disease of the breast isn't related to Paget's disease of the bone, a metabolic bone disease.

Paget's disease of the breast occurs most often in women over age 50. Most women with Paget's disease of the breast have underlying infiltrating ductal breast cancer. Only in rare cases is the cancer confined to the nipple itself.

Symptoms