Mammary and extramammary Paget's disease

Abstract

Paget's disease, described by Sir James Paget in 1874, is classified as mammary and extramammary. The mammary type is rare and often associated with intraductal cancer (93-100% of cases). It is more prevalent in postmenopausal women and it appears as an eczematoid, erythematous, moist or crusted lesion, with or without fine scaling, infiltration and inversion of the nipple. It must be distinguished from erosive adenomatosis of the nipple, cutaneous extension of breast carcinoma, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, chronic eczema, lactiferous ducts ectasia, Bowen's disease, basal cell carcinoma, melanoma and intraductal papilloma. Diagnosis is histological and prognosis and treatment depend on the type of underlying breast cancer. Extramammary Paget's disease is considered an adenocarcinoma originating from the skin or skin appendages in areas with apocrine glands. The primary location is the vulvar area, followed by the perianal region, scrotum, penis and axillae. It starts as an erythematous plaque of indolent growth, with well-defined edges, fine scaling, excoriations, exulcerations and lichenification. In most cases it is not associated with cancer, although there are publications linking it to tumors of the vulva, vagina, cervix and corpus uteri, bladder, ovary, gallbladder, liver, breast, colon and rectum. Differential diagnoses are candidiasis, psoriasis and chronic lichen simplex. Histopathology confirms the diagnosis. Before treatment begins, associated malignancies should be investigated. Surgical excision and micrographic surgery are the best treatment options, although recurrences are frequent.

HISTORY

Sir James Paget, a British surgeon and physiologist, first described Paget's disease in 1874.¹ At the time, he portrayed a disease that presented itching, excoriation, erythema and liquid nipple discharge and that was associated with underlying cancer in the mammary gland. Butlin detailed the peculiar histopathology two years later.

CLASSIFICATION

Mammary Paget's disease

Extramammary Paget's disease

MAMMARY PAGET'S DISEASE (MPD)

EPIDEMIOLOGY

This is a rare disease that corresponds to 1-4.3% of all breast cancers and is frequently associated with intraductal, in situ or invasive neoplasms. It is more prevalent in postmenopausal women, usually after the sixth decade of life, but it has also been reported in adolescent and elderly patients.^2,3,4 It may affect male patients, albeit more rarely.

CLINICAL PRESENTATION

The disease has an insidious onset, evolving over months or years for the most part unilaterally, although rare bilateral cases have been reported.⁵ It starts in the nipple, then extends to the areola, and in more advanced cases to the surrounding skin, as eczematoid, erythematous, thickened, moist or crusted lesions, with irregular borders, with or without fine scaling, induration, infiltration, secretion, bleeding, ulceration and nipple invagination (Figure 1).⁶ In some cases the aspect is psoriasiform, in others it simulates inflammatory and eczematous conditions; hyperpigmented lesions similar to superficial spreading melanoma have been reported. It is often asymptomatic at the beginning, but during evolution pruritus, burning sensation and pain can be present. In very advanced stages, serous and/or bloody papillary discharge, as well as destruction of the papillary-areolar complex may be observed. At the time of diagnosis, lesions' diameters vary from 0.3 to 15 cm. The disease can also occur in ectopic breasts and accessory nipples.⁷

FIGURE 1.

A: Initial mammary Paget’s diseas. Observe unilateral involvement on right nipple. B - Detailed depiction on the previous figure (Courtesy from Dr. Samuel Freire da Silva) C- Mammary Paget’s disease also affecting the areola

Between 93-100% of MPD cases are associated with underlying breast cancer, usually central and multifocal tumors, mainly located near the areola. In nearly half the affected patients there is a palpable tumor mass in the breast, characterized as an invasive tumor. When this mass is not clinically evident, intraductal cancers are in situ.^8,9 It may affect male patients and the clinical characteristics are similar to those occurring in women.^10,11

INVESTIGATION OF ASSOCIATED BREAST CANCER

Confronted with a diagnosis of MPD, it is essential to investigate mammary gland neoplasm. This type of cancer may be in situ or invasive, but it is almost always present. A careful clinical examination and imaging exams assessment are necessary for diagnostic conclusion.

Mammograms can detect masses or calcifications that represent invasive or in situ ductal carcinoma, especially when these lesions are palpable. However, a negative exam does not exclude the presence of tumors. Some studies report rates of mammographically occult neoplasms ranging from 15 to 65%.^12,13

Ultrasound is particularly useful in cases with negative mammograms. However, findings are nonspecific, showing only parenchymal heterogeneity, hypoechoic areas, discrete masses, cutaneous thickening and ductal dilation. Magnetic resonance is highly sensitive for the diagnosis of breast neoplasms, especially if mammography and ultrasound are normal. It may demonstrate thickening of the papillary-areolar complex, increase in nipple size, detection of in situ ductal lesions and invasive tumors, even in clinically unsuspected cases.¹⁴

HISTOPATHOLOGY

MPD is histopathologically characterized by epidermal Paget cells, which are malignant glandular epithelial cells with abundant and clear cytoplasm, usually containing mucin, and pleomorphic and hyperchromatic nucleus. These cells appear organized in groups, with nest-like patterns or gland-like structures, and are preferably located in the epidermal basal layer. The number of cells varies from a few to large quantities; even completely replacing the epidermal cells. Invasion of adnexal structures can occur. Ortho-and parakeratosis may be present. The dermis displays reactive characteristics, with telangiectasia, chronic inflammation and ulceration in more advanced cases.

Figure 2 shows histopathological findings of epidermal Paget's disease and in situ dermal ductal carcinoma in the same biopsy sample.

FIGURE 2.

Mammary Paget’s disease in the nipple associated, in the same biopsy, with mammary duct in situ carcinoma (HE, 40x)

Immunohistochemistry is very useful in MPD for differential diagnoses and histogenesis. Overexpression of the low molecular weight cytokeratins, notably CK7, and lack of expression of high molecular weight cytokeratins, such as CK10, CK14 and CK20 are observed.^15,16 Paget cells have the same immunohistochemical staining pattern as the underlying breast cancer cells. Furthermore, they also express carcinoembryonic antigen, epithelial membrane antigen, and some mucins. Since breast cancers associated to MPD are poorly differentiated, estrogen and progesterone antigens are frequently negative. Mori et al found overexpression of oncogenic ras and p21 in mammary and extramammary diseases.¹⁷ Paget cells express p53, p21, Ki-67, cyclin D1, androgen receptors and Her-2 oncoprotein.^18-22 Recent studies have shown that the expression of NY-BR-1, a breast differentiation antigen, may have a role in MPD's pathogenesis.²³

HISTOGENESIS

The histogenesis of MPD is controversial. There are two main hypotheses that try to explain it and a third that would represent the combination of them:

- Epidermotropic Theory

- Degeneration of Pre-Existing Cells Theory

Epidermotropic theory states that Paget cells would be cells from the generally present underlying intraductal cancer that migrated through the basement membrane to the nipple. Furthermore, recent studies have shown that, in most cases, there is considerable similarity in immunohistochemical staining between MPD and the associated intraductal cancer.²⁴ In support of this theory, authors detected an overexpression of Her-2 protein in Paget cells suggesting that keratinocytes would synthesize heregulin-alpha, a mobility factor that would attract Paget cells to the nipple.²⁵

The second theory, the degeneration of preexisting cells, considers that Paget cells are keratinocytes that have undergone malignant transformation and that the disease is an in situ carcinoma regardless of the underlying intraductal carcinoma.²⁶ Proponents of this theory argue that ultrastructural studies have found microvilli and desmosomes between Paget cells and local keratinocytes.²⁷ Further studies are needed to reach a definitive conclusion.

A third theory attempts to combine the two previous ones, suggesting that Paget cells can originate in both ways already mentioned, depending on local circumstances.²⁸ The frequent expression of breast differentiation antigen NY-BR-1 was demonstrated in a recent study in MPD and EMPD, suggesting that it may be used as a marker for these diseases.²⁹

DIAGNOSIS

All unilateral persistent inflammatory lesions, located in the nipple and/or areola should prompt an investigation for MPD.³⁰

Diagnosis is clinical and histopathological. Biopsy can be performed by "shaving", "punch" or incisional techniques, the latter being the most appropriate one. It is essential that the sample contains part of the lactiferous duct and if the areola is affected, it also needs to be represented in the sample to confirm the diagnosis. Often histological exams are inconclusive and more biopsies, or even surgical removal of the entire nipple may be required. The main histological characteristic is the presence of Paget cells, which are arranged in solid groups. On occasion, they form glandular arrangements outlining the basal epidermis and exhibit migration to the granular layer, similarly to melanocytes. Immunohistochemical methods, such as CK7, Her-2 oncoprotein and carcinoembryonic antigen, in addition to histochemical methods for acid mucin (colloidal iron, Alcian Blue and Mayer's mucicarmine) can be used for diagnostic conclusion, although negative results do not exclude the possibility. CK7 and Her-2 are considered specific and sensitive MPD markers.³¹ In 2013, Crignis et al made a dermoscopic study of polarized light in a classic case of MPD (non-pigmented) and found the presence of "chrysalis-like" structures, a feature described lately in the literature but not yet reported in MPD cases.³² One study was recently published on the use of confocal microscopy in 10 patients with MPD and EMPD, with satisfactory results.³³

DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSES

Erosive adenomatosis of the nipple can simulate MPD when the latter is circumscribed to the nipple. The chronic evolution and histopathological results make the diagnosis. Cutaneous extension of a mammary carcinoma is rare and should be suspected in case of nipple retraction or adherence. Once more, histopathological results set the diagnosis. Differential diagnoses should also be made with inflammatory diseases, including psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, chronic contact dermatitis and lactiferous duct ectasia. Bowen's disease, superficial and pagetoid basal cell carcinoma, superficial spreading melanoma (if there is hyperpigmentation) and benign intraductal papilloma, should also be considered.³⁴ Because of the clinical resemblance between MPD and these diseases, often the diagnosis is not made or is delayed, with consequent worsening of the prognosis.

PROGNOSIS

Some factors indicate an unfavorable prognosis, among them: the presence of a palpable breast tumor, enlarged lymph nodes, histological type of breast cancer and patients younger than 60 years. When there is a palpable breast mass, almost always the carcinoma is invasive and associated with high rates of axillary lymph node metastases. Lymph node involvement is correlated with median survival rates, reaching 75-95% when negative and 20 to 25% when positive. In another study, the mean 10-year survival rate was estimated at 47% in cases with positive lymph nodes and 93% in those with negative lymph nodes.³⁵ When the disease occurs in males, the prognosis is poor, with an average 5-year survival rate of 20-30%.

TREATMENT

Treatment depends on clinical, radiological and histopathological features of the associated breast cancer, and on metastatic lymph node involvement. Mastectomy with or without axillary lymph node dissection, even in the absence of other malignancy signs, is considered the best therapy for MPD.

Recently, with the increase in early diagnosis in breast cancer, multiple prospective randomized trials were conducted showing that more conservative surgical treatments are possible alternatives, if the disease is limited to the central segment of the breast. Among those therapies are: partial or total exclusive nipple excision, central segmentectomy alone or followed by radiation therapy, and radiotherapy without surgical resection.^34,35,36,37 Since these are not yet established therapies, if they are adopted patients should be followed closely, even with regular mammograms.

Complementary treatments depend on the final tumor staging and lymph node metastases.

HISTORY

In 1889, Radcliffe Crocker first described extra-mammary Paget's disease (EMPD) in a patient with urinary bladder carcinoma, who presented an eczematous lesion on the penis and scrotum. Darier and Coulillaud described the perianal location of EMPD in 1893.

HISTOGENESIS

It is considered a rare adenocarcinoma that originates from the skin or skin appendages in areas with apocrine glands. It is believed that, the disease originates from pluripotent stem cells and it has clinical and histological features similar to MPD.

EPIDEMIOLOGY

The exact incidence is not known, although it is more common in Caucasian postmenopausal women. In a study with 1,439 patients, the authors reported 965 women and 474 men, with mean age of 72 years (range 63-79). The majority was Caucasian.³⁸

CLASSIFICATION

EMPD classification is based on the presence or absence of associated malignancies:

1. Primary or intraepithelial

2. Secondary

The secondary type is associated with underlying carcinoma or distant tumors.^38,39

CLINICAL PRESENTATION

The main anatomical location is the vulva, with 65% of cases, followed by the perianal region (which is more frequent in males), scrotum, penis and axilla (Figures 3, 4 and 5).³⁹ In most cases, it is an intraepithelial lesion not associated with any underlying or distant cancer. There are, however, several publications linking vulvar EMPD with cancer of the vulva, vagina, cervix and uterus, bladder, ovary, gallbladder, liver, breast, colon and rectum, in rates that vary from 4-20%.^40,41 The anorectal location is mostly associated with stomach, breast and colorectal carcinomas. Primary EMPD can evolve to invasive adenocarcinoma, with inherent metastatic potential to regional lymph nodes and distant organs.³⁸

FIGURE 3.

Vulvar Paget’s disease

FIGURE 4.

Paget’s disease affecting vulva, perineal region and part of the inguinocrural sulcus

FIGURE 5A AND 5B.

Extramammary Paget’s disease in male genitals

The disease appears as an erythematous plaque, with indolent growth, very well defined borders and the presence of fine scales. It may be asymptomatic or present various degrees of burning sensation and pruritus, which may even lead to the appearance of excoriations, exulcerations and lichenification. In the later stages, it may become infiltrated. This disease is usually multifocal with sub -clinical extension, which sometimes hinders the establishment of precise limits with normal skin.

DIAGNOSIS AND DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSES

Diagnosis is clinical and must be confirmed by histopathology. Confocal microscopy was useful in the diagnosis of a few cases, as recently published.⁴² Histopathology reveals the presence of Paget cells in the epidermis, as seen in Figures 6A and 6B. When histochemical reactions for acid mucin, such as Alcian Blue, colloidal iron and mucicarmine Mayer are used, the presence of this substance is detected in the cytoplasm of neoplastic cells. Immunohistochemical examination is very important to the differential diagnoses with Bowen's disease, amelanotic superficial spreading melanoma and to determine whether it is a primary or secondary disease.⁴³ Cutaneous melanoma expresses Melan A, S100 and HMB45 but not the other antibodies, while Bowen's disease expresses AE1AE3, p63 and eventually CK7 (Figure 7). The immunohistochemical marker GCDFP-15 (or BRST2) is expressed in 50% of cases of primary EMPD and it is negative in secondary types.⁴⁴ Figure 8 shows focal positivity for this marker in EMPD.

FIGURE 6.

A: Epidermis showing intense thickening due to the proliferation of atypical cells in Paget’s disease (HE, 40x). B: Pagetoid migration of atypical epithelial cells, near the granular layer, some with a clear cytoplasm (HE, 400x)

FIGURE 7.

CK7 immunoreactivity in several neoplastic cells (400x)

FIGURE 8.

BRST2 or GCDFP-15 m a r k e r (gross cystic disease fluid protein-15) with focal positivity in E M P D (400X)

Depending on the morphological aspects found, especially absence of glandular arrangement patterns and only Pagetoid migration through epidermic layers besides lack of melanin pigment in amelanotic melanoma, a more detailed investigation of the neoplasm is necessary to exclude other differential diagnoses (Table 1). Langerhans cell histiocytosis, which can be morphologically similar to Paget's disease, is another possible differential diagnosis. In this case there will be immunoreactivity of a specific marker for Langerhans cells - CD1a, while Paget's disease markers will be negative.⁴⁵

TABLE 1.

Histological and immunohistochemical differential diagnoses of mammary and extramammary Paget's disease

METHODS	Primary extramammary	Secondary extramammary	Bowen's disease melanoma	Superficial spreading
	Paget's disease	Paget's disease
PAS diastase resistant	+	+	-	-
Mayer's mucicarmine	+	+	-	-
Alcian Blue	+	+	-	-
Colloidal iron	+	+	-	-
Fontana Masson	-	-	-	+
Pancytokeratin (AE1AE3)	+	+	+	-
CK7	+	+	+ or -	-
EMA	+	+
CEA	+	+	-	-
GCDFP-15	+	-	-	-
Melan-A	-	-	-	+
P63	-	-	+
S100 protein	-	-	-	+
HMB45	-	-	-	+

Cutaneous candidiasis, chronic lichen simplex and psoriasis should also be excluded through direct mycological examination, mycological culture and histopathology.

TREATMENT

Before any therapeutic measure is taken, a thorough and careful investigation to detect the presence or absence of associated malignancy is essential, especially in cases with perianal lesions. Surgical excision with ample margins and micrographic surgery are the best treatment options, nonetheless relapses are frequent due to the sub-clinical extent of the disease. Studies using photodynamic therapy have been published, however achieving solely palliative results.⁴⁶ Imiquimod cream at 5% concentration²⁹, 5% 5-fluorouracil cream, CO2 laser and the association of two or more therapeutic approaches may also be used, with variable results.⁴⁷ Since relapses are very common with any of the available therapeutic options, close monitoring for long periods is mandatory.