How do you know if you have Paget's disease of the breast?

The symptoms of Paget disease of the breast are often mistaken for those of some benign skin conditions, such as dermatitis or eczema (1–3). 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.

How do you test for Paget's disease?

A simple blood test can be carried out to check the level of a substance called alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in your blood. People with Paget's disease of bone often have raised levels of ALP, although some people with the condition have a normal ALP level and a high level can also be caused by some other conditions.

What does Paget's disease look like on a mammogram?

Mammography plays an important role in the diagnosis and management of Paget's disease; however, it has its own limitations and may be normal in some cases (Fig. 2). The common mammographic findings are skin thickening in the nipple areolar region (Fig. 3), asymmetric density (Fig.

How fast does Paget disease of the breast progress?

Mammary Paget's disease is associated with carcinoma of the underlying lactipherous ducts. The skin lesions progress slowly over months as scaly, fissured, or oozing erythema of the nipple and areola. Advanced lesions may appear as well-demarcated, eczema-like plaques with a pink or red hue.

What is the most common initial site of Paget's disease?

Paget's disease usually begins in the cancellous bone of an epiphysis or metaphysis. A diaphysis is the first site involved in some instances, and the anterior subperiosteal area of the proximal half of the tibia in a very small number of cases.

Paget's Disease Of The Breast, What Is It?

What does Paget's disease look like?

Symptoms of Paget's disease of the nipple

Paget's disease of the nipple always starts in the nipple and may extend to the areola. It appears as a red, scaly rash on the skin of the nipple and areola. The affected skin is often sore and inflamed, and it can be itchy or cause a burning sensation.

What are the three phases of Paget's disease?

The key histopathological feature of Paget disease involveS the bone architecture and includes the three phases of the disease: mixed, osteolytic, and osteosclerotic. These phases may occur at the same time or separately.

How can you tell the difference between Paget's disease and eczema?

Paget's disease may affect your nipple, while eczema rarely affects your nipple. Paget's disease also typically only affects one breast, while eczema affects both breasts and other parts of your chest. Paget's disease won't respond to the same treatments as eczema.

Is Paget's disease serious?

Over time, enlarged or misshapen bones can stress nearby joints leading to osteoarthritis in those joints. In very rare cases, Paget's can turn into a life-threatening cancerous bone disease. Severe Paget's disease may cause damage to the heart.

Who gets Paget's disease of the breast?

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 (2, 3).

Can mammogram detect Pagets?

A mammogram is an x-ray of the breast tissue and may be used to determine whether Paget cells are present. Mammography is also used to detect or rule out whether an underlying cancer is present.

How serious is Paget's disease of the breast?

Paget's disease of the breast is a rare type of cancer that forms in or around your nipple. It's involved in 1% to 4% of all breast cancers. It may be linked with an underlying breast cancer, either ductal carcinoma in situ or invasive breast cancer.

What of the following is the most common appearance of Paget's disease?

Paget's disease can affect any bone in the skeleton. It appears most often in the spine, pelvis, long bones of the limbs, and skull. It can be present in just one bone or in several bones.

What is the most common age to be diagnosed with Paget's disease?

Age. People older than 50 are most likely to develop the disease. Sex. Men are more commonly affected than are women.

What blood tests show Paget's disease?

The most important one for diagnosing Paget's disease is a blood test for alkaline phosphatase, an enzyme made by bone. If the level of this enzyme is high, your doctor will want to do other tests. You might also need other tests, such as an MRI or a CT scan.

Does vitamin D deficiency cause Paget's disease?

Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency is higher in patients with Paget's disease of bone compared with age-matched controls. Arq Bras Endocrinol Metabol. 2013 Oct;57(7):509-12. doi: 10.1590/s0004-27302013000700002.

Is Pagets disease painful?

Symptoms can include: constant, dull bone pain. joint pain, stiffness and swelling. a shooting pain that travels along or across the body, numbness and tingling, or loss of movement in part of the body.

What is the life expectancy of someone with Paget's disease?

In that study, the British General Practice Research Database identified 2465 patients diagnosed with Paget's disease of bone from 1988 to 1999; retrospective review indicated that 5-yr survival was 67% in patients with Paget's disease compared with 72% in control patients.

What does eczema of the breast look like?

dry, cracked or scaly skin. red or brownish-gray areas of skin under, in between, or on your breasts. small bumps that may discharge fluid and crust over after repeated scratching. swollen or overly sensitive skin from scratching.

What does itchy breast mean?

Summary. Breast itchiness without a rash has many possible causes, including dry skin or growing breasts due to puberty, weight gain, or pregnancy. In some cases, allergic reactions or other underlying conditions may be responsible for the itchiness.

Which medications may be prescribed to treat Paget's disease?

Can Paget's disease of the breast be cured?

Paget disease can be treated by removing the entire breast (mastectomy) or breast-conserving surgery (BCS) followed by whole-breast radiation therapy. If BCS is done, the entire nipple and areola area also needs to be removed. If invasive cancer is found, the lymph nodes under the arm will be checked for cancer.

Is Paget's disease curable?

There's currently no cure for Paget's disease of bone, but treatment can help relieve the symptoms. If you do not have any symptoms, your doctor may suggest keeping an eye on your condition and delaying treatment until any problems occur.

Does Paget's disease of the breast come and go?

In most cases, Paget's disease affects one breast, and the symptoms may come and go. This means symptoms may cycle through, appearing to improve and then worsen again. The symptoms may look similar to eczema or other such skin conditions.

What virus causes Paget's disease?

In most cases, no specific cause for Paget's disease can be identified (sporadic). Research findings suggest that Paget's disease may be related to a “slow virus” infection of bone, a condition that is present for many years before symptoms appear.