Breast cancer imaging : ductal carcinoma in-situ (DCIS) : part 1

Abstract

Ductal carcinoma in-situ (DCIS) is a noninvasive malignancy and a potential precursor to invasive cancer at pathologic analysis, DCIS shows proliferation of malignant epithelial cells that line the ducts (at the level of the terminal ductal–lobular unit) (Fig 1) without invasion through the basement membrane The detection rate of DCIS has increased markedly over the past two decades with the advent of breast cancer screening. Early detection and assessment of extent of DCIS is important for planning successful conservative breast surgery. Half the cases of recurrent DCIS are associated with invasive ductal cancer. In addition, 20% of patients with DCIS develop metastases within 10 years of initial diagnosis.