Ductal carcinoma in situ, or DCIS for short, is a precursor to breast cancer. If detected early, DCIS has a good chance of being cured. Below you will find further information on ductal carcinoma in situ and recommended DCIS specialists.
Most people are not generally familiar with the term DCIS. "DCIS" is the abbreviation for "ductal carcinoma in situ". In this case, the word "carcinoma" suggests that DCIS is a cancer. In colloquial language, doctors also speak of "ductal carcinoma in situ".
DCIS is a pathological cell proliferation, i.e. a tumor. It is located in the milk ducts of the female breast. "In situ" is the Latin term for the fact that something is still in its original location, in this case: The proliferated cells have not yet invaded neighboring tissue.
Important to know: DCIS - in situ - almost always remains in its original location in the milk ducts. However, it can occasionally leave out an area and continue elsewhere in the milk ducts.
DCIS describes the preliminary stage of a cancer that often develops into breast cancer if undetected and untreated. Early detection of DCIS in the precancerous stage offers good chances of recovery.
DCIS is the precancerous stage of a cancer that often leads to breast cancer if undetected and untreated @ inspiring.team /AdobeStock
DCIS rarely causes symptoms. Occasionally breast pain occurs. In some cases, a tumor can be felt on palpation or blood may leak from the nipple. Normally, however, affected women find out about DCIS through a mammography examination of their breasts.
If DCIS is suspected, the gynecologist is the right specialist to treat the tumor. They are able to differentiate between DCIS and breast cancer and tailor the treatment accordingly.
As a tumor in the precancerous stage, DCIS only contains a lump in a small number of patients. Accordingly, it is rarely diagnosed by palpation. Sometimes DCIS is found by chance, for example during the surgical removal of a benign breast tumor.
In 70 to 95 percent of cases, DCIS is associated with calcium deposits in the breast tissue. This is why doctors usually diagnose it during a routine mammogram as part of early cancer detection. The calcifications or microcalcifications are clearly visible on the mammography machine.
Calcifications, which often occur in DCIS, can be easily recognized in the mammogram @ Peakstock /AdobeStock
The next step in the diagnostic process is a biopsy. The doctor takes a tissue sample for examination in the histology laboratory. The examination serves to confirm the DCIS and whether it is benign or malignant. It also clarifies whether it is a breast cancer precursor or breast cancer.
During the tissue examination, the laboratory basically determines the degree of change in the breast cell tissue compared to healthy tissue material.
The grade scale ranges from 1-3:
G1 (grade 1): low risk with an approx. 30 percent tendency towards breast cancer
G2 (grade 2): moderately increased risk of subsequent breast cancer
G3 (grade 3): high risk with the probability of developing into breast cancer if left untreated
The type of treatment for DCIS depends on the individual clinical picture. The decisive criteria are the size of the tumor and the cellular characteristics of the tumor tissue.
The focus is on surgical removal of the DCIS. The surgeon removes the DCIS generously from the surrounding healthy tissue. With a safety margin around the DCIS, so to speak. This is the best way to prevent overlooked tumor remnants from remaining.
If a DCIS is advanced and has a large mass, the breast can be amputated. Even if the breast cancer is not yet present. This is followed by plastic reconstruction surgery.
The surgical technique is similar to that used for breast cancer. However, there is one significant difference: the removal of the lymph nodes, which is often necessary in breast cancer surgery, is not required in DCIS surgery. There is also no need for chemotherapy or radiotherapy. DCIS does not form metastases. Once doctors have removed the tumor or nodes, the DCIS, which is considered a precancerous stage, is considered cured.
If the histological tissue examination reveals numerous DCIS cells, doctors recommend estrogen-blocking medication after the operation. These slow down the growth of newly formed DCIS cells.
DCIS patients should undergo regular check-ups even after successful treatment. In terms of early cancer detection, such examinations should take place more frequently than the usual screening examinations. After all, DCIS can develop again.
The causes and risks of DCIS have not yet been clearly defined. From a scientific point of view, this is a new clinical picture.
DCIS only came to medical attention a few decades ago. Since mammography gained importance in diagnostics. As a non-palpable tumor, doctors discover DCIS more frequently as an early precancerous stage. There is still a need for research into the causes and risks of DCIS .
However, the factors favoring DCIS are likely to be largely similar to the causes and risk factors for breast cancer, for example
Also relevant are:
Childless women have a statistically higher risk than mothers, non-breastfeeding mothers have a statistically higher risk than breastfeeding mothers.
Age at the onset of the first menstruation and the menopause also determine the risk of breast cancer and the risk of DCIS: the longer the period between the onset of menstruation and the onset of the menopause, the more favorable the risk of the disease.
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The risk of DCIS increases with age, which is why many women are affected during the menopause @ fizkes /AdobeStock
There is no scientific evidence that tight bras, deodorants with aluminum, abortions or breast implants are responsible for breast cancer and DCIS.
After complete removal of all affected tumors and subsequent close follow-up examinations, DCIS has a good prognosis.
DCIS can often be detected during a mammogram as part of a cancer screening examination. This carcinoma of the milk ducts is a precancerous breast tumor with excellent chances of recovery. Provided that doctors recognize and treat it in time.
If left untreated , DCIS can develop into breast cancer. The earlier surgery is performed for DCIS, the gentler and safer the course of treatment. Patients are almost always considered cured afterwards. However, they should take part in regular cancer screening measures.
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