Roy A. Jensen, MD

Why does the debate over theappropriate treatment ofductal carcinoma in situ(DCIS) continue? Three widely publicizedmulti-institutional randomizedtrials have addressed this question,[1-4]and all have reached largely the sameconclusion. Radiation therapy reducesthe risk of local recurrence of DCISby approximately 50%. Despite thisfact, a significant percentage of DCISpatients (50% or more in many settings)in consultation with their cliniciansopt to undergo excision aloneand forgo radiotherapy.