Paget’s disease of the breast in Nigeria

Abstract EN

Background: Breast cancer in Nigeria often presents at incurable stage.

Paget’s disease of the breast is rare but carries a good prognosis if recognized early.

Objective: To heighten awareness of the problem, to improve its recognition in its early stages.

Methods:The clinical presentation and the course of disease of twenty-two patients were seen in our breast clinic over a 10-year period with Paget’s disease of the breast were reviewed.

Five patients (Group 1) without associated mass were compared with 17 (Group 2) with an associated mass.

Results: Misdiagnosis due to non-recognition added 6.2 months to the mean delay of 18.4 months prior to definitive management.

Patients without associated mass were alive at a mean of 104 months compared to 46.8 months in patients with associated mass (p< 0.001).

Survival was 50 months for Paget’s disease with a mass, but negative axillary lymph nodes versus 32 months when a mass and positive axillary nodes were present (p < 0.05).

Conclusions: Familiarity with Paget’s disease of the breast is mandatory for all medical personnel.

Its visibly symptomatic presentation provides a chance for early diagnosis, early management, and an excellent prognosis.