Paget disease of the nipple: radiologic-pathologic 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.