PAGET DISEASE OF THE NIPPLE - RADIOLOGIC-PATHOLOGICAL CORRELATION

PURPOSE: To correlate the range of clinical presentations with mammographic and histologic findings in patients with Paget disease of the nipple. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The clinical, pathologic, and mammographic records of 58 patients who had biopsy-proved Paget disease of the nipple were retrospectively reviewed. The results of two previous studies were also included. RESULTS: Among 34 patients who had typical findings of Paget disease, the mammograms of 17 (50%) showed normal findings, those of 10 (29%) showed nipple, areolar, or subareolar abnormalities, and those of seven (21%) showed evidence of masses or calcifications. Of the mammograms of 24 women with Paget disease but without clinical findings, 19 (79%) showed evidence of suspicious masses or calcifications, four (17%) showed nipple or areolar abnormalities, and one was negative. CONCLUSION: Nonspecific findings of nipple-areolar complex thickening should be correlated with findings at breast physical examination to confirm or exclude Paget disease.