Paget's disease of the breast

Paget's disease is a type of malignant neoplasm of the breast. With this disease, the nipple is affected with the transition to the areola. Among patients who have this disease, those whose age is more than 50 years predominate.

Causes

The exact causes leading to the appearance of this disease have not yet been established. In this case, there are 2 basic theories: Paget cells, which form a tumor in the chest, move to the nipple, which causes the gradual development of breast cancer Paget . Cells located in the nipple region, degenerate into cancerous cells, under the influence of pathogenic factors.

Symptoms

In the early stages, the symptoms of Paget's disease, which causes breast damage, can be in the form of small irritations in the nipple area. Then on the surface of the skin flakes are formed, burning, itching, soreness is added. The nipples become very sensitive. If in the initial stages the process is localized mainly in the nipple region, then it can pass to the breast.

External manifestations of Paget's cancer resemble eczema, localized on the surface of the breast. In rare cases, the disease affects both breasts. In almost half of patients, palpation seals can be detected.

Diagnostics

The primary diagnosis of this disease is ultrasound of the breast . To clarify the diagnosis, a cytological examination is performed. It consists in the analysis of cells taken from the surface of the affected area of ​​the breast. Also, doctors often resort to biopsies of a taken tissue fragment and magnetic resonance imaging, which allows to establish the exact location of the tumor.

Treatment

The most effective method of treating Paget's disease, as well as in general breast cancer, is a surgical intervention. In the early stages of the disease, radical breast resection with simultaneous removal of the tumor, part of the breast or just the nipple is carried out.

In the absence of invasive growth, a simple mastectomy is usually prescribed by a doctor. In the case of invasive forms of the disease, radical mastectomy is recommended. In this case, complete removal of the breast is performed together with the affected pectoral muscle and surrounding lymph nodes. Together with the operation, radiotherapy, hormone therapy and chemotherapy are carried out. An important role in the favorable outcome of the disease is played by the woman's earlier treatment with a doctor.