Pagets disease of the breast

Screening by Breast Self Examination: Early detection is important and is achieved by self-examination. It is necessary to check the nipple area of your breasts thoroughly. If you detect a lump or skin irritation in this area that persists for more than a month, see your doctor.

Breast examination: Doctors examine the breast and look for changes and eczematous skin lesion in the nipple and areola region around the nipple.

Mammogram (breast x-ray): Special X-ray films are used to observe fine calcifications behind the nipple and also other changes in the affected and normal breast

Ultrasound scan: A gel is spread on the breast and a small device, which emits sound waves, is rubbed over the area. This test is painless and takes just a few minutes to identify the underlying cancer.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): This diagnostic tool creates multidimensional detailed pictures of areas inside the breast.

Biopsy (skin punch biopsy technique): This is the main test for confirming cancer cells below the skin surface. A small piece of tissue from the area of the nipple with the abnormal changes and a small amount of skin and underlying tissues is removed and sent to the pathologist. This procedure takes a few minutes to perform under local anesthesia and is painless. It is 100% accurate. Variations to this procedure include stereotactic core needle biopsy. Based on the biopsy report it will be very useful in the staging of the disease and thereby facilitate the treatment process.

Imprint or scrape cytology: It is a non-invasive, reliable, rapid diagnostic screening method for Paget's disease of the breast. Cells from the affected area and discharge from the nipple can be scraped or pressed on to a slide and examined under a microscope.