Abstract

Ductal carcinomas in situ (DCIS) represent one fifth of all detected breast cancers. The detection of DCIS can be regarded as collateral damage of breast cancer screening. The treatment of DCIS is based on surgery with or without radiotherapy. Women treated for DCIS have a 10 years survival of 98 %. Could there be a role for systemic therapy in case of a DCIS? Recent published studies suggest there is. However, anti-hormonal therapy (tamoxifen, anastrozole) in DCIS causes an increased morbidity without a reduced mortality. There is an urgent need for evidence-based guidelines in the management of DCIS in order to make appropriate shared decisions.