Final answer:
The most likely diagnosis for a 50-year-old female with an eczematoid lesion around the areola is Paget's disease of the breast, a serious condition requiring medical evaluation. Hence, option (3) is correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
The most likely diagnosis for a 50-year-old female with an eczematoid lesion around the areola is Paget's disease of the breast. This condition is a rare type of cancer that affects the nipple and typically presents with symptoms that resemble eczema, such as redness, flaking, and itching of the skin around the nipple. It is important to distinguish this from other common skin disorders like eczema, contact dermatitis, and other skin conditions because early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for a better prognosis.
Although contact dermatitis can also cause similar symptoms, the specific location and presentation in an older adult make Paget's disease a more concerning possibility, requiring prompt medical evaluation. The ABCDE mnemonic helps diagnose early-stage melanoma but is not directly relevant to this case. Overall, any persistent skin changes around the nipple should be evaluated by a healthcare provider to rule out serious conditions like breast cancer.