Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)

DCIS is also graded, but the grade is based only on how abnormal the cancer cells appear
(nuclear grade). The presence of necrosis (areas of dead or degenerating cancer cells) is
also noted. The term comedocarcinoma is often used to describe DCIS with prominent
necrosis.
Other important factors that can affect the prognosis for a woman with DCIS, include the
surgical margin (how close the cancer is to the edge of the specimen) and the size
(amount of breast tissue affected by DCIS). In situ cancers that are large, have a high
nuclear grade, or necrosis are more likely to contain an area of invasive cancer and are
also more likely to come back after treatment. If cancer cells are at or near the edge of the
sample it also raises the risk of DCIS coming back later.