Breast-conservation treatment for patients with ductal carcinoma in situ

Fourteen cases with symptomatic ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) were treated with breast-conservation treatment intensified with endocrine therapy. Nine of 14 patients with palpable mass had tumor detected on mammography. CT, ultrasonography, and MRI were able to detect linear and/or spotty lesion or enhancement suggesting DCIS. Whereas these findings were not particular to DCIS, the combination of these modalities would be useful in deciding the extent of resection for DCIS. There was no patient selection for breast-conservation treatment in our department. All patients received tangential and boost radiation, and were treated with endocrine therapy using anti-estrogen drugs. The reason that nine cases had close margins (<5 mm) might be on account of the treatment including lumpectomy with 1 cm of surgical margin. In spite of their margin status, no local or systemic failure was experienced, and the cosmetic results of most patients were rated as excellent or good. Therefore, our breast-conservation treatment intensified with systemic therapy is thought to be adequate for patients with symptomatic DCIS. Six of eight cases who received preoperative treatment containing endocrine therapy with or without CAF chemotherapy showed a decrease in tumor size. Preoperative treatment may effect the microinvasion and/or breast tissue surrounding a DCIS tumor.