DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS OF MAMMARY PAGET DISEASE. A LITERATURE REVIEW AND CASE SERIES

Abstract

Mammary Paget disease (MPD) is a rare form of a breast cancer. It mainly affects nipple - areolar complex and is often associated with ductal carcinoma in situ or invasive form of ductal carcinoma. This disease affects up to 5% of women and less than 1% of men with breast cancer. Clinically MPD is required to be differentiated with other illnesses, such as eczema, contact dermatitis, Bowen‘s disease, psoriasis, melanoma and many others. For this reason, it is significantly important choosing proper diagnostic tools for MPD diagnostics on time and to avoid misdiagnosis. The hallmark of the disease is erythematous, scaly rash with uneven borders and desquamation of the nipple. When MPD is suspected, the biopsy and histopathologic examination is mandatory to verify the diagnosis. At the end of the paper three case reports of patients who were treated in the National Cancer Institute are presented. The purpose of these reports is to illustrate the differential diagnostics and treatment of MPD.