Paget's disease of the nipple is most commonly associated with underlying breast cancer of which histological type?

• A Invasive lobular carcinoma
• B Tubular carcinoma
• C Ductal carcinoma in situ or invasive ductal carcinoma ✓
• D Mucinous carcinoma

Explanation

Paget's disease of the nipple is almost always associated with underlying ductal carcinoma — either DCIS (~50%) or invasive ductal carcinoma (~50%). The Paget cells in the nipple epidermis are malignant cells that have migrated from the underlying duct carcinoma along the lactiferous ducts. Lobular carcinoma rarely produces Paget's disease because lobular cells lack E-cadherin and spread differently.

Reference: Bailey & Love's Short Practice of Surgery, 27th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.