Surgical oncology clinics of North America
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Surg. Oncol. Clin. N. Am. · Apr 1997
Ductal carcinoma in situ. The success of breast conservation therapy: a shared experience of two single institutional nonrandomized prospective studies.
A combined database of 342 patients with DCIS treated by lumpectomy alone versus lumpectomy and radiation therapy with a median 82-month follow-up is summarized in this joint study. Reproducible subtype classification and common methods of mammographic-pathologic correlation and complete tissue processing are unique features of this database, and they permit outcome to be analyzed by pathologic subtype, size, and margine status. Striking differences are noted in local control rates analyzed by subtype, which were largely independent of irradiation (see Table 1). ⋯ Significant differences achieved by radiation therapy were demonstrable only for the smallest size group (15 mm or less) in the highgrade subtype (group III). Differences in local recurrence rates for low and intermediate subtypes (group I and II) based on radiation therapy could not be demonstrated within the three size categories used in the study. We conclude that although adequate margins are more difficult to achieve for larger or more extensive DCIS, size alone is not a prohibition to breast conservation.