Breast pathology 2

Question 1

What is ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)?

Answer 1

Non-invasive or pre-invasive cancer where malignant cells are confined to the ducts in the breast and have not spread into the surrounding breast tissue.

Question 2

Most common type of non-invasive breast malignancy?

Answer 2

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)-comprises around 20% of all breast cancers diagnosed

Question 3

Pathophysiology of ductal carcinoma in situ?

Answer 3

Malignancy of the ductal tissue of the breast that is contained within basement membrane.

20-30% of cases (who do not receive treatment) will develop invasive disease

Question 4

Clinical presentation of DCIS?

Answer 4

Often asymptomatic - detected during screening

Question 5

Investigations for DCIS?

Answer 5

Often detected during screening, where it appears as microcalcifications on mammography, either localised or wide spread

Question 6

Management for DCIS?

Answer 6

Any detected localised DCIS should be treated with complete wide excision, ensuring surrounding tissue of all margins have no residual disease

Adjuvant radiotherapy

Cases of widespread or multifocal DCIS normally requires complete mastectomy