Clinical management of minimal breast cancer

Minimal breast cancer includes three different entities: lobular carcinoma in situ, noninfiltrating intraductal carcinoma, and invasive carcinoma less than 0.5 cm. The common feature is their small dimensions and the fact that they are often clinically occult. For lobular carcinoma in situ the risk of developing an invasive carcinoma varies from seven to nine times compared with the general population and a careful follow-up of the patients with frequent mammograms is therefore suggested. Intraductal noninfiltrating carcinoma should be locally treated as an invasive carcinoma of small size, and therefore an extensive mammary resection like the quadrantectomy, plus radiotherapy is the recommended form of treatment, while the axillary dissection may be avoided. Finally, small invasive carcinomas should be treated with conservative procedures, including a total axillary dissection.