Erosive adenomatosis of the nipple: a benign imitator of malignant breast disease.

We present the case of a 66-year-old white woman with erosive adenomatosis of the nipple, in which an initial diagnosis of Paget's disease was considered. Diagnosis of erosive adenomatosis of the nipple was made by the characteristic histologic findings on a biopsy specimen. This essentially benign condition is generally unilateral, with erythema, crusting, and hardening of the nipple. Histologic findings of erosive adenomatosis of the nipple eliminate the diagnosis of invasive carcinoma or Paget's disease, which can have clinical features similar to those of erosive adenomatosis of the nipple.