Paget's disease of the nipple-areola complex as seen in Benin City, Nigeria.
Out of a total of 240 patients who were managed at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Nigeria, for breast cancer over a ten year period (January 1995-December 2004, 8 (3.3%) were found to have Paget's disease of the nipple-areolar complex. They were all females aged between 38-60 (mean 47.62 years). Duration of symptoms before presentation was between 5 months and 7 years (mean 20.75 months). The left breast was more affected than the right. They all presented with itching, excoriation and ulceration of the nipple and diagnosis was by wedge biopsy of the nipple in early cases and by incisional biopsy in late cases. Most presented with advanced disease. Seven patients had mastectomy while one declined surgery. They all had chemotherapy and tamoxifen. Five died within one year of surgery while the remaining three were lost to follow up. Paget's disease, though rare, requires a high index of suspicion for proper diagnosis.
Ohanaka
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Department of Surgery and Pathology, College of Medical Sciences, University of Benin, P.M.B. 1154, Benin City, Nigeria.
Ollu-Eddo
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AN
D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria; D009558:Nipples / Q000473:pathology*; D010144:Paget's Disease, Mammary / Q000473:pathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies