Paget Disease of the Breast

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to describe magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in patients with Paget disease of the breast and to evaluate mammography and MRI of the breast in the diagnosis of associated breast cancer. Nine patients with biopsy-proven Paget disease of the nipple underwent preoperative mammography and MRI of the breast to evaluate underlying breast cancer. All patients underwent subsequent surgery. The patients' charts and imaging studies were retrospectively reviewed. Imaging findings were correlated to results of histopathology. Histopathology confirmed Paget disease of the nipple in all 9 patients and diagnosed associated ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) in the retroareolar lactiferous ducts in 8 of 9 patients (88%). MRI showed abnormal nipple enhancement in these 8 patients with an ill-defined thickened nipple-areolar complex. DCIS elsewhere in the breast was diagnosed in 4 of 9 patients (45%) corresponding to nonfocal enhancement in all 4 patients at MRI of the breast (100%). Paget disease of the breast associated with underlying DCIS can be diagnosed at MRI of the breast and therefore impact management decisions.