Extramammary Paget's disease other diagnostic studies

Biopsy is diagnostic of extramammary Paget’s disease. Other diagnostic studies for extramammary Paget’s disease include fine needle aspirate and Pap smear.

• The diagnosis of EMPD requires a high degree of clinical suspicion which should be followed by skin biopsy and pathologic correlation. Skin biopsy to evaluate possible EMPD in patients in whom ongoing therapy is ineffective should be performed.
• As there are several other genital skin diseases that may appear similar, skin biopsy of the lesion is performed to get an accurate diagnosis of extramammary Paget disease.
• The presence of Paget’s cells along with other histological findings confirms diagnosis. To distinguish Paget’s disease from early melanoma, special stains may be necessary. Because EMPD extends beyond the visibly involved margins, involved skin should be examined by using transverse frozen sections or serial vertical sections. For extramammary Paget’s disease (EMPD) Pathology, click here.

Fine needle aspirate may be helpful in the evaluation of lymph nodes.

Pap smear may be helpful in search for other malignancies.

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