Abstract

Ductal carcinoma in situ(DCIS)has traditionally been considered a very rare form of breast cancer. However, with mammography as a screening tool, the number of cases has increased markedly in western reports. To determine the clinical and histopathological characteristics, the outcomes of 15 women with ductal carcinoma in situ treated at Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital between 1983 and 1993 are studied retrospecitively. The results were as follow: 1) The prevalent rate of DCIS is 2.9%(15 out of 519 cases). 2) Age specific percentage of DCIS shows peak in their 40's. 3) The most initial manifestation is a palpable mass and nipple discharge(12 cases: 80.0%) but in 3 cases mammographic microcalcification is the only abnormal finding. 4) Average extent of the lesion is 29.8mm, ranged from 9mm to 90mm. 5) There is one multicentric and one multifocal disease out of 15 cases respectively. 6) 7 cases(46.7%) have microinvasion which is all comedo type DCIS. 7) The most common pathologic subtype is comedo type DCIS(80.0%, 12 out of 15 cases), fol- lowed by papillo-tubular type. 8) Hormone receptor status in evaluable 4 cases reveals ER(-), PgR(-). 9) Modified radical mastectomy was done in 13 cases(86.7%) and breast preserving surgery was done in 2 cases. 10) One local recurrence has occured(recurrence rate: 6.7%) in the ipsilateral breast at 28 months after modified radical mastectomy who eventually died because of systemic metastasis at the postoperative 3 years. In spite of short fo11ow-up periods, the author conclude that DCIS is regarded as an early stage of malignant disease and its outcome after surgery is good. In the future, as a result of widespread application of screening mammography, the incidence of DCIS could be increased and the tool for selecting aggressive form of DCIS should be developed.

• Keywords: Ductal carcinoma in situ, Breast cancer