The biology and management of ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), sometimes referred to as intraductal carcinoma, is generally a nonpalpable lesion of the breast, detected on screening mammography. The incidence of DCIS is closely intertwined with the usage of mammography screening, as most patients who are diagnosed with DCIS are asymptomatic. Hence, the greater usage of screening mammography has led to dramatic increases in detection and incidence rates of DCIS. In the United States, prior to the advent of mammography screening in the late 1970s, DCIS accounted for less than 5% of all breast tumors, but with the widespread use of mammography screening in recent years, it now comprises 20% to 25% of all breast tumors.