Pagets Disease of the Breast

Overview :

Paget's disease of the breast is generally associated with an underlying breast cancer. It is generally seen in people between the ages of 40 and 80 years. Cases in men have been identified, but they are extremely rare.

Paget's disease of the breast may also be called mammary Paget's disease (MPD). There is a much rarer form of this disease called extramammary Paget's disease (EMPD). MPD affects the breast nipple and is also called Paget's disease of the nipple. EMPD can affect the skin of the external genital tissues in both women and men, as well as the skin of the eyelids and external ear canal. MPD is believed to develop from a tumor growth within the milk ducts of the breast. EMPD may represent a spreading (metastasis) of MPD to other parts of the body.