Breast cancer ribbon transforming into a blossoming flower

Paget's Disease and Breast Cancer: What You Need to Know

Jordan Keane in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"A new study sheds light on treatment options for Paget's disease with invasive ductal carcinoma, offering hope for better outcomes."

Paget's disease of the breast (PD), a rare form of cancer affecting the nipple and areola, can be a diagnostic challenge. Often mistaken for benign skin conditions, early and accurate diagnosis is crucial. When PD occurs with invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), it presents unique considerations for treatment and prognosis. This article breaks down a recent study that explores these considerations, providing clarity for those seeking information and guidance.

A study analyzed data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program to investigate the clinical characteristics, treatment approaches, and survival outcomes of patients diagnosed with Paget's disease with invasive ductal carcinoma (PD-IDC). The research particularly focused on the role of surgical treatment options, aiming to identify factors that contribute to better patient outcomes.

Using SEER data from 2010-2013, the study compared patients with PD-IDC to those with IDC alone, examining differences in survival rates and the impact of various treatment strategies. The findings offer valuable insights into how PD-IDC affects prognosis and how surgical interventions can be optimized.

Key Findings: Unpacking the Research on Paget's Disease with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma

Breast cancer ribbon transforming into a blossoming flower

The study revealed several important insights: Patients with PD-IDC often present with more extensive lymph node involvement, larger tumor sizes, and higher-grade tumors compared to those with IDC alone. PD-IDC tumors are more likely to be hormone receptor-negative and HER2-positive. Despite these factors, patients with PD-IDC showed a better prognosis and lower mortality rates compared to the IDC group after adjusting for other variables.

Researchers found that a history of axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) significantly correlated with overall survival (OS) in PD-IDC cases, while HER2 status was associated with breast cancer-specific mortality (BCSM). However, further analysis indicated no significant difference in survival outcomes between different surgical treatment subgroups.

Better Prognosis: PD-IDC patients show improved survival compared to IDC patients.
HER2 Impact: HER2-positive PD-IDC is linked to higher breast cancer-specific mortality.
Surgery Options: Breast-conserving surgery with radiotherapy appears to be a feasible alternative to mastectomy.
Lymph Node Biopsy: Sentinel lymph node biopsy should be considered for appropriate treatment.

Historically, mastectomy has been the standard treatment for PD-IDC due to the risk of hidden multifocal malignancies. However, with advances in imaging technology, breast conservation surgery (BCS) has emerged as a viable option for selected patients. Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is also being explored as a less invasive method for staging the axilla, although its role in PD treatment remains under investigation. This study suggests that breast-conserving surgery with radiotherapy and sentinel lymph node biopsy are reasonable options.

Moving Forward: What This Means for Patients and Future Research

This study offers a more optimistic outlook for individuals diagnosed with Paget's disease with invasive ductal carcinoma. The findings support considering breast-conserving surgery with radiotherapy as a potential alternative to mastectomy, and emphasize the importance of sentinel lymph node biopsy for appropriate staging and treatment planning.

Further research is needed to refine treatment strategies and identify which patients are most likely to benefit from specific surgical approaches. Future studies should also investigate the molecular profiles of PD-IDC tumors to better understand their behavior and response to therapy. Additionally, more data is needed regarding systemic therapy.

Ultimately, a collaborative and standardized approach to managing PD-IDC is essential to optimize patient outcomes. By staying informed and working closely with their healthcare providers, individuals affected by this rare disease can make informed decisions about their treatment journey.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1038/srep45510, Alternate LINK

Title: Surgical Treatment In Paget’S Disease With Invasive Ductal Carcinoma: An Observational Study Based On Seer

Subject: Multidisciplinary

Journal: Scientific Reports

Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Authors: Qi Wu, Xiaojun Ding, Juanjuan Li, Si Sun, Shan Zhu, Juan Wu, Qian Liu, Feng Yao, Shengrong Sun

Published: 2017-04-01

Everything You Need To Know

How does Paget's disease of the breast with invasive ductal carcinoma differ from invasive ductal carcinoma alone in terms of tumor characteristics and prognosis?

Paget's disease of the breast, when occurring with invasive ductal carcinoma, presents more extensive lymph node involvement, larger tumor sizes, and higher-grade tumors compared to invasive ductal carcinoma alone. Furthermore, these tumors are more likely to be hormone receptor-negative and HER2-positive. However, after adjusting for other variables, patients with Paget's disease with invasive ductal carcinoma actually show a better prognosis and lower mortality rates.

What specific factors, such as axillary lymph node dissection and HER2 status, have been identified as significantly impacting survival outcomes in Paget's disease with invasive ductal carcinoma?

Axillary lymph node dissection has been shown to significantly correlate with overall survival in Paget's disease with invasive ductal carcinoma cases. Also, HER2 status was associated with breast cancer-specific mortality. While this information is valuable for understanding prognostic factors, further analysis has indicated no significant difference in survival outcomes between different surgical treatment subgroups.

Why was mastectomy historically the standard treatment for Paget's disease with invasive ductal carcinoma, and how are treatment approaches evolving?

Traditionally, mastectomy was considered the standard treatment for Paget's disease with invasive ductal carcinoma because of the risk of hidden multifocal malignancies. However, advances in imaging technology have made breast-conserving surgery a viable option for selected patients. Sentinel lymph node biopsy is also being explored as a less invasive method for staging the axilla.

What is the significance of considering breast-conserving surgery with radiotherapy and sentinel lymph node biopsy in the treatment of Paget's disease with invasive ductal carcinoma?

Breast-conserving surgery with radiotherapy is emerging as a potential alternative to mastectomy for treating Paget's disease with invasive ductal carcinoma. The findings also emphasize the importance of sentinel lymph node biopsy for appropriate staging and treatment planning. These approaches aim to balance effective cancer treatment with quality of life considerations for patients.

Where did the data come from for the Paget's disease with invasive ductal carcinoma study?

The study used data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program from 2010-2013. This database is a comprehensive source of cancer incidence and survival information in the United States. By analyzing this data, researchers were able to compare patients with Paget's disease with invasive ductal carcinoma to those with invasive ductal carcinoma alone, examining differences in survival rates and the impact of various treatment strategies.