Itchy rash on the nipple: Paget tumor?

Paget's disease occurs in about 1-2 percent of women with breast cancer, usually in the fifth decade of life. There are changes such as eczema on the nipple. Eczema zuächst just a general term for a number of inflammation, infection does not, itchy skin changes associated with redness, blisters, nodules, crust, weeping and edema.

In nine out of ten cases of eczema in the nipple area behind cancer, breast cancer one or ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). It is one of the milk ducts precancerous out. Cancer cells do not penetrate here through the outlet to the environment, so that the non-invasive cancer. Instead exceeded, normal invasive breast cancer with an important deadline at the source. Tumors may be limited in the early stages of the channel region just behind the nipple.

The real reason is unknown. Hormonal and genetic factors play a role.

Symptoms: Typical is, reddish rash die-hard nipple and areola, which turned into a bit stream, bleeding or the formation of crust, but non-healing wounds. Changes may be associated with pain or burning sensation. In about half of those who suffer palpable nodes.

Diagnosis: The first important point is to distinguish it from other skin diseases such as eczema, but the most spread of the areola to the nipple and was not originally developed as in Paget's disease of the nipple itself on. Doctor is a diagnostic imaging procedures such as breast customary to begin. In addition, he may order a smear of cells or fluid-pressed out of the nipple and of course microscopic tissue samples, possibly ultrasound guidance, seen from the sore area.

Therapy: Tumor surgery. Operating levels depending on the nature and spread of tumors. Nipple and areola and some of the underlying tissue to be removed in any case, sometimes the network even more. Treatment depends on the individual case. You may be in a radiation-sensitive breast cancer with concurrent hormone in anti-hormone therapy, it consists of chemotherapy. Antibody therapy can be harmful if the tumor tissue increasingly forming what is called HER-2-factor and then reacted very strongly to this growth stimulation. Therapeutic antibodies can interfere with this mechanism.