How can you tell the difference between Paget's disease and eczema?

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How can you tell the difference between Paget's disease and eczema?

Paget’s disease of the breast is a rare form of breast cancer that involves the skin of the nipple and can extend onto the areola. It has many of the same symptoms as breast eczema, which can sometimes lead to a misdiagnosis. These symptoms include:

  • Itching, tingling or discoloration in the nipple area.
  • Flaky, crusty or thickened skin.
  • A flattened or turned in (inverted) nipple.
  • Yellow or bloody leakage from the skin of the nipple.

However, there are differences between Paget’s disease and eczema. Paget’s disease may affect your nipple, while eczema rarely affects your nipple. Paget’s disease also typically only affects one breast, while eczema affects both breasts and other parts of your chest.

Paget’s disease won’t respond to the same treatments as eczema. The tests used to diagnose Paget’s disease include:

  • Breast exam.
  • Mammogram.
  • Ultrasound.
  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
  • Biopsy.

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