if a health care provider suspects paget's disease of the nipple a biopsy of the nipple skin is performed. in a biopsy the doctor removes a small sample of tissue. a pathologist examines the tissue under a microscope to see if paget cells are present. the pathologist may use a technique called immunohistochemistry (staining tissues to identify specific cells) to differentiate paget cells from other cell types. a sample of nipple discharge may also be examined under a microscope for the presence of paget cells. because most people with paget's disease of the nipple also have underlying breast cancer physical examination and mammography (x-ray of the breast) are used to make a complete diagnosis.
how is paget's disease of the nipple diagnosed?