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Updated: Oct 6, 2025

Sectioning Mammary Gland Whole Mounts for Lesion Identification
Published on: July 24, 2017
Pigmentary mammary Paget disease: Clinical, dermoscopical and histological challenge
Angelo Massimiliano D'Erme1, Roberta Iozzo2, Paolo Viacava3
1Melanoma and Skin Cancer Unit AVNO (Area Vasta Nord Ovest) and Unit of Dermatology, Livorno Hospital, Livorno.
Abstract:
A very rare variant of mammary Paget disease (MPD) is the pigmented MPD, first described in 1956. It is very difficult to distinguish this variant from melanoma both clinically and dermoscopically. The diagnosis is confirmed by histopathology and immunohistochemistry. Correct diagnosis is crucial for surgical treatment, which is different for these two diseases. We report the case of a 92-year-old woman, who presented an asymptomatic pigmented lesion of the right nipple and areola. The lesion was arisen for about 6 months and was suspected for melanoma because of clinical and dersmoscopic characteristics. Incisional biopsy revealed tumor cells, that proliferate in the major mammary ducts, and tumor cells in the overlying epidermis of the nipple, thus diagnosing pigmented mammary Paget disease. The patient underwent radical mastectomy.

