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Radiotherapy for Paget's disease of the nipple: a conservative alternative
A D Stockdale1, J D Brierley, W F White
1Regional Centre for Radiotherapy and Oncology, St Luke's Hospital, Guildford, Surrey.
Lancet (London, England)
|September 16, 1989
Summary
Radiotherapy alone effectively treats Paget's disease of the nipple in select patients. For those without a palpable tumor and normal mammograms, this method offers a viable alternative to mastectomy, preserving disease-free status.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Dermatology
- Radiology
Background:
- Paget's disease of the nipple is a rare condition often treated with mastectomy.
- Radiotherapy is an alternative treatment modality for this condition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of radiotherapy alone in treating Paget's disease of the nipple.
- To identify patient subgroups who may benefit from radiotherapy as an alternative to mastectomy.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 28 patient case records.
- Analysis of treatment outcomes for patients receiving radiotherapy alone.
- Focus on patients with no palpable underlying tumor and normal mammograms at diagnosis.
Main Results:
- 16 out of 19 selected patients (those with no palpable tumor and normal mammograms) remained disease-free.
- Median follow-up was 5 years and 3 months.
- Radical radiotherapy with small fields localized to the involved skin demonstrated effectiveness.
Conclusions:
- Radiotherapy alone is an effective treatment for Paget's disease of the nipple in a carefully selected group of patients.
- This approach offers a promising alternative to mastectomy for patients with no palpable underlying tumor and normal mammograms.
- Localized radical radiotherapy can achieve long-term disease control.