Sir James Paget first described Paget disease (PD) of the breast in 1874. In 1881, Thin illustrated the first histologic description of Paget’s Disease.(1)
Mammary Paget’s disease occurs almost exclusively in women; involvement of the male breast is rarely reported.(1)
How Common Is Paget’s Disease Of The Breast Or Is It A Rare Disease?
Paget’s disease of the breast is a rare disease that was first described by Sir James Paget in 1874 in a female associated with underlying breast cancer. It is a very uncommon disease with a very low incidence in the general population. It is almost exclusively found in females and is very rare to find a case in males. Paget’s disease of the breast is almost 100 % associated with underlying breast cancer. It may be an early staged in situ cancerous tissue in 10 % of the cases but in almost 90 % it is usually associated with infiltrating form of cancer of the breast.
When talking about that breast cancer, according to many studies it is found that between one to four percent of the total number of cases of breast cancer are found to be associated with Paget’s disease of nipple or breast which is not a huge amount but still has got strong association with underlying breast cancer. Male Paget’s disease of the breast is very rarely spotted, like one in the case of treated cases of prostate cancer with hormonal therapy. If it has to be quantified then it would make less than 1% of the total cases that are found in females.
The age of diagnosis for Paget’s disease of the breast varies widely with a range from the earliest case being reported at the age of 24 years and the latest case being reported at the age of 84 years. The mean age of diagnosis of Paget’s disease of the breast is about 55 years and the average are about 52 to 58 years. It is found to be later in cases in which there is not much development of breast cancer and it is in situ but it is found earlier by about 10 years in cases where there is the development of infiltrating form of breast cancer.(1)
In another study, it has been found that almost all the cases of Paget’s disease of the breast diagnosed after the age of 50 years but few of them are also diagnosed as early as at the age of 20. According to the same study, the mean age has shifted from 55 years to 62 years.
The prognosis of the disease in association with the Paget’s disease of nipple or breast is very variable and depends upon many factors which consist of the presence of mass upon diagnosis, the involvement of lymph nodes, the involvement of other organs, etc.(2)
Conclusion
According to almost all the research available on Paget’s disease of the nipple, it is found that it has been associated with very low incidence even in the cases of breast cancer and which is even lower in the general population. To be exact about the incidence it is found at the percentage of 1 to 4.3 % in the females having breast cancer and is even lower in cases of males. The overall number of cases is also very much lower in males because of its almost exclusive association found in females. The mean age of involvement and detection for diagnosis was found to be about 55 years in earlier study groups but now it has shifted more towards the above 60 age group. The survival rate is dependent upon the grading and categorization of breast cancer which is found generally in the association with Paget’s disease of the nipple .
Also Read:
- How To Diagnose Paget’s Disease Of The Breast & What Is The Best Medicine For It?
- What Is The Prognosis For Paget’s Disease Of The Breast & Lifestyle Changes For It?
- Is Paget’s Disease Of The Breast A Serious Condition & Can It Be Reversed?
- Classification/Stages In Paget’s Disease Of The Breast
- Is Paget’s Disease Of The Breast Fatal & How Do You Stop It From Spreading?
- What Is The Survival Rate For Paget’s Disease Of The Breast & Is It A Disability?
- How Do I Know If I Have Paget’s Disease Of The Breast & Will A Mammogram Detect It?
