Paget Disease of the Nipple: Questions and Answers 

Key Points 

• Paget disease of the nipple is an uncommon type of cancer that forms in 

or around the nipple (see Question 1). 

• Paget disease of the nipple is almost always associated with an 

underlying breast cancer (see Questions 1 and 2). 

• Scientists do not know exactly what causes Paget disease of the nipple, 

but two major theories have been suggested for how it develops (see 

Question 2). 

• Symptoms of early-stage disease may include redness or crusting of the 

nipple skin; symptoms of more advanced disease often include tingling, 

itching, increased sensitivity, burning, or pain in the nipple (see 

Question 3). 

• Paget disease of the nipple is diagnosed by performing a biopsy (see 

Question 4). 

• Surgery is the usual treatment for Paget disease of the nipple. Additional 

treatments may be recommended under certain circumstances (see 

Question 5). 

• Many clinical trials for breast cancer are under way (see Question 6). 

1. What is Paget disease of the nipple?

Paget disease of the nipple, also called Paget disease of the breast, is an uncommon type 

of cancer that forms in or around the nipple (1, 2, 3). More than 95 percent of people 

with Paget disease of the nipple also have underlying breast cancer; however, Paget 

disease of the nipple accounts for less than 5 percent of all breast cancers (1). For 

instance, of the 211,240 new cases of breast cancer projected to be diagnosed in 2005, 

fewer than 11,000 will also involve Paget disease of the nipple (4). 

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Most patients diagnosed with Paget disease of the nipple are over age 50, but rare cases 

have been diagnosed in patients in their 20s (1). The average age at diagnosis is 62 for 

women and 69 for men. The disease is rare among both women and men. 

Paget disease of the nipple was named after Sir James Paget, a scientist who noted an 

association between changes in the appearance of the nipple and underlying breast cancer 

(1, 5). There are several other unrelated diseases named after Paget, including Paget 

disease of the bone and Paget disease of the vulva; this fact sheet discusses only Paget 

disease of the nipple. 

2. What are the possible causes of Paget disease of the nipple? 

Scientists do not know exactly what causes Paget disease of the nipple, but two major 

theories have been suggested for how it develops (1, 2). One theory proposes that cancer 

cells, called Paget cells, break off from a tumor inside the breast and move through the 

milk ducts to the surface of the nipple, resulting in Paget disease of the nipple. This 

theory is supported by the fact that more than 97 percent of patients with Paget disease 

also have underlying invasive breast cancer or ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) (1). 

DCIS, also called intraductal carcinoma, is a condition in which abnormal cells are 

present only in the lining of the milk ducts in the breast, and have not invaded 

surrounding tissue or spread to the lymph nodes. DCIS sometimes becomes invasive 

breast cancer. Invasive breast cancer is cancer that has spread outside the duct into the 

breast tissue, and possibly into the lymph nodes under the arm or into other parts of the 

body. 

The other theory suggests that skin cells of the nipple spontaneously become Paget cells. 

This theory is supported by the rare cases of Paget disease in which there is no underlying 

breast cancer, and the cases in which the underlying breast cancer is found to be a 

separate tumor from the Paget disease (1). 

3. What are the symptoms of Paget disease of the nipple? 

Symptoms of early Paget disease of the nipple include redness and mild scaling and 

flaking of the nipple skin (1). Early symptoms may cause only mild irritation and may 

not be enough to prompt a visit to the doctor (3). Improvement in the skin can occur 

spontaneously, but this should not be taken as a sign that the disease has disappeared. 

More advanced disease may show more serious destruction of the skin (1). At this stage, 

the symptoms may include tingling, itching, increased sensitivity, burning, and pain. 

There may also be discharge from the nipple, and the nipple can appear flattened against 

the breast (1, 2). 

In approximately half of patients with Paget disease of the nipple, a lump or mass in the 

breast can be felt during physical examination (1). In most cases, Paget disease of the 

nipple is initially confined to the nipple, later spreading to the areola or other regions of 

the breast (1, 2). The areola is the circular area of darker skin that surrounds the nipple. 

Paget disease of the nipple can also be found only on the areola, where it may resemble 
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eczema, a noncancerous itchy red rash (1). Although rare, Paget disease of the nipple can 

occur in both breasts (2). 

4. How is Paget disease of the nipple diagnosed? 

If a health care provider suspects Paget disease of the nipple, a biopsy of the nipple skin 

is performed (1, 2, 3). In a biopsy, the doctor removes a small sample of tissue. A 

pathologist examines the tissue under a microscope to see if Paget cells are present. The 

pathologist may use a technique called immunohistochemistry (staining tissues to identify 

specific cells) to differentiate Paget cells from other cell types (1). A sample of nipple 

discharge may also be examined under a microscope for the presence of Paget cells (3). 

Because most people with Paget disease of the nipple also have underlying breast cancer, 

physical examination and mammography (x-ray of the breast) are used to make a 

complete diagnosis. 

5. How is Paget disease of the nipple treated? 

Surgery is the most common treatment for Paget disease of the nipple (1, 2, 5). 

The specific treatment often depends on the characteristics of the underlying breast 

cancer. 

A modified radical mastectomy may be recommended when invasive cancer or extensive 

DCIS has been diagnosed (5). In this operation, the surgeon removes the breast, the 

lining over the chest muscles, and some of the lymph nodes under the arm. In cases 

where underlying breast cancer is not invasive, the surgeon may perform a simple 

mastectomy to remove only the breast and the lining over the chest muscles (2, 5). 

Alternatively, patients whose disease is confined to the nipple and the surrounding area 

may undergo breast-conserving surgery or lumpectomy followed by radiation therapy 

(1, 2, 5). During breast-conserving surgery, the surgeon removes the nipple, areola, and 

the entire portion of the breast believed to contain the cancer. In most cases, radiation 

therapy is also used to help prevent recurrence (return of the cancer). 

During surgery, particularly modified radical mastectomy, the doctor may perform an 

axillary node dissection to remove the lymph nodes under the arm (1, 5). The lymph 

nodes are then examined to see if the cancer has spread to them. In some cases, a sentinel 

lymph node biopsy may be performed to remove only one or a few lymph nodes. (For 

more information about sentinel lymph node biopsies, please see National Cancer 

Institute Fact Sheet 7.44, Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy: Questions and Answers, at 

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Therapy/sentinel-node-biopsy on the 

Internet.) 

Adjuvant treatment (treatment that is given in addition to surgery to prevent the cancer 

from coming back) may be part of the treatment plan, depending on the type of cancer 

and whether cancer cells have spread to the lymph nodes. Radiation treatment is a 
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common adjuvant therapy for Paget disease of the nipple following breast-conserving 

surgery. Adjuvant treatment with anticancer drugs or hormone therapies may also be 

recommended, depending on the extent of the disease and prognostic factors (estimated 

chance of recovery from the disease or chance that the disease will recur). 

6. Are clinical trials (research studies) available? Where can people get more 

information about clinical trials? 

Yes. The NCI is currently sponsoring many clinical trials for all types of breast cancer. 

These studies are designed to find new treatments and better ways to use current 

treatments. As new and improved treatments are found for breast cancer, the treatment 

options for Paget disease of the nipple will also improve (2, 5). 

People interested in taking part in a clinical trial should talk with their doctor. 

Information about clinical trials is available from the NCI’s Cancer Information Service 

(CIS) (see below) at 1–800–4–CANCER and in the NCI booklet Taking Part in Cancer 

Treatment Research Studies, which can be found at http://www.cancer.gov/publications 

on the Internet. This booklet describes how research studies are carried out and explains 

their possible benefits and risks. Further information about clinical trials is available at 

http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials on the NCI’s Web site. The Web site offers detailed 

information about specific ongoing studies by linking to PDQ®, the NCI’s cancer 

information database. The CIS also provides information from PDQ. 

Selected References 

1. Kaelin CM. Paget's Disease. In: Harris JR, Lippman ME, Morrow M, Osborne CK, 

editors. Diseases of the Breast. 3rd ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, 

2004. 

2. DeVita,VT Jr., Hellman S, Rosenberg SA, editors. Cancer: Principles and Practice of 

Oncology. 7th ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, 2004. 

3. Beers MH, Berkow R, editors. The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy. 17th ed. 

Whitehouse Station, NJ: Merck & Company, Inc., 1999. 

4. American Cancer Society (2005). Cancer Facts and Figures 2005. Atlanta, GA: 

American Cancer Society. Retrieved April 20, 2005, from 

http://www.cancer.org/downloads/STT/CAFF2005f4PWSecured.pdf. 

5. Marcus E. The management of Paget's disease of the breast. Current Treatment Options 

in Oncology 2004; 5:153–160. 
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Related NCI materials and Web pages: 

• National Cancer Institute Fact Sheet 2.11, Clinical Trials: Questions and Answers

(http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Information/clinical-trials) 

• National Cancer Institute Fact Sheet 5.14, Improving Methods for Breast Cancer 

Detection and Diagnosis

(http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Detection/breast-cancer) 

• National Cancer Institute Fact Sheet 7.1, Radiation Therapy for Cancer: Questions 

and Answers (http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Therapy/radiation) 

• National Cancer Institute Fact Sheet 7.20, Adjuvant Therapy for Breast Cancer: 

Questions and Answers

(http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Therapy/adjuvant-breast) 

• Surgery Choices for Women With Early-Stage Breast Cancer

(http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/breast-cancer-surgery-choices)

• Understanding Breast Changes: A Health Guide for Women

(http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/understanding-breast-changes)

• What You Need To Know AboutTM Breast Cancer

(http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/wyntk/breast) 

For more help, contact: 

NCI’s Cancer Information Service 

Telephone (toll-free): 1–800–4–CANCER (1–800–422–6237) 

TTY (toll-free): 1–800–332–8615

LiveHelp® online chat: https://cissecure.nci.nih.gov/livehelp/welcome.asp

This fact sheet was reviewed on 6/27/05