What is Ducal Carcinoma in Situ?
” Ductal carcinoma in situ, also know as DCIS or intraductal carcinoma, is a breast cancer that has been found before it has spread outside of the breast duct. This is in contrast to invasive breast cancer which is no longer confined to the milk duct and has spread to adjacent tissue and potentially to the lymph nodes and other sites in the body. “How is the diagnosis of DCIS made?” DCIS is usually diagnosed on a mammogram. It is often identified by calcifications (calcium deposits) on a mammogram. Rarely an area of DCIS can be felt on a breast exam or seen with the ultrasound. If DCIS is suspected we must first confirm the diagnosis by getting a sample of the area. This can be done in the office with either a stereotactic or mammotome biopsy or in the hospital as an outpatient surgery. “How is DCIS treated?” DCIS can be treated with either a wide excision of the area of DCIS or with a mastectomy. Some women will also benefit from receiving radiation therapy after their surgery. The ty
