Paget's disease of the breast areola mimicking cutaneous melanoma

Breast J. 2006 May-Jun;12(3):233-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1075-122X.2006.00247.x.

Abstract

Paget's disease of the breast nipple and areola complex represents a cutaneous manifestation of an underlying breast malignancy. The typical skin changes characteristic of breast Paget's disease are usually easily distinguished from those found of malignant melanoma. The rare finding of a pigmented cutaneous breast lesion mimicking melanoma presents a diagnostic dilemma. This case presentation describes a pigmented mammary lesion involving the areola that had undergone changes in diameter and pigmentation. The lesion was not associated with nipple drainage, nipple excoriation, dermal ulceration, or a palpable breast mass. The areola lesion was highly suggestive of a dermatologic malignancy such as malignant melanoma. As such, a biopsy was performed with initial findings suggestive of cutaneous melanoma. Upon more detailed analysis of a larger excision specimen, immunohistochemical staining was highly supportive of the diagnosis of breast Paget's disease. A total mastectomy with sentinel lymph node evaluation was performed along with immediate reconstruction. The final pathology revealed a small focus of ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast associated with the areola changes. Histologic and immunohistochemical analysis of a biopsy specimen were paramount in differentiating these two lesions.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Breast Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Breast Neoplasms / surgery
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Mastectomy, Radical
  • Melanoma / diagnosis*
  • Melanoma / pathology
  • Middle Aged
  • Paget's Disease, Mammary / diagnosis*
  • Paget's Disease, Mammary / pathology
  • Paget's Disease, Mammary / surgery
  • Skin Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Skin Neoplasms / pathology
  • Skin Pigmentation