Involvement of the nipple and areola in breast cancer. Value of clinical findings.

In a series of 80 consecutive mastectomies it was investigated histologically, by a horizontal sectioning technique, how often the nipple and/or areola were involved in breast cancer. Such involvement was found in 35 cases (43.8%). In the same series the value of the clinical findings as to involvement of the nipple and/or areola was assessed. Only 6 of the 35 cases had shown clinical changes that could give rise to a suspicion of spread to the nipple and/or areola.