Cancer treatment reviews
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Cancer treatment reviews · Apr 2000
ReviewDuctal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast: evolving perspectives.
Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast is an early, localized stage of carcinoma in the process of multistep breast carcinogenesis. The incidence of DCIS is increasing, mainly due to screening mammography, which results in diagnosing the disease in an increasing proportion of asymptomatic patients. Consequently, clinicians are being confronted with growing numbers of women who present with DCIS of the breast; thus, the concepts of managing such patients are assuming greater importance. ⋯ The role of tamoxifen in the treatment of DCIS is not clearly defined; tamoxifen should be given only in patients enrolled in clinical trials. Following breast-conservation therapy, about 50% of the tumours recur as invasive cancer. Most patients with recurrent disease can be treated effectively, usually by salvage mastectomy, but also in selected cases by breast-conservation therapy.