Harefuah
-
Paget's disease of the breast is a rare malignancy of the nipple-areola complex, comprising 0.5-4% of all breast cancers which is often associated with an underlying in-situ or invasive carcinoma in the breast parenchyma. It is manifested by progressive eczematoid changes of the areola with persistent soreness or itching. Due to the seemingly benign appearance, diagnosis is often delayed by more than six months. ⋯ In the absence of a mass the prognosis is invariably better as it usually reflects a noninvasive tumor (DCIS). The standard treatment has been mastectomy. However in an era when breast conserving surgery is implemented even for advanced infiltrating breast tumors, there might be a role for such a treatment for selected patients with Paget's disease.