Predictors and effectiveness of different biopsy techniques in spotting invasion in the clinically diagnosed breast ductal carcinoma in situ

Objectives To study the management of patients with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and detect the predictors of recurrence and of missing an invasive component in the preoperative biopsy, aiming at guiding tailored treatment of these cases. Materials and methods A total of 123 cases of DCIS, pure/with invasion, were retrieved from the database of a tertiary cancer hospital in the period from February 2007 to February 2018. Clinical, radiologic & pathologic characteristics and its impact on the surgical management were analyzed. Results The mean age of the patients was 50.5 ± 12.4 years. The commonest presentation was a palpable mass in 82.9% of the cases. Conservative breast surgery was successfully performed in 15 cases and mastectomy in 108 cases. Recurrence was reported in 11 cases. The underestimation rate in core needle biopsy was 48.9% missing invasive component within diagnosed malignant lesions and 19.6% missing the diagnosis of malignancy. On the other hand, overtreatment was noted as regard surgical procedure and adjuvant therapies. Conclusions Mastectomy still the most common surgical treatment of DCIS and unfortunately sentinel lymph node biopsy is still underused. Underestimation of invasive component can occur in at least 1/4 of the patients, complexing the treatment plan. Overtreatment with axillary surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy needs governance.