SCREENING-DETECTED AND SYMPTOMATIC DUCTAL CARCINOMA IN-SITU - MAMMOGRAPHIC FEATURES WITH PATHOLOGICAL CORRELATION

PURPOSE: To compare the mammographic and pathologic features of screen ing-detected and symptomatic ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). MATERIAL S AND METHODS: The mammographic and pathologic features of 54 screenin g-detected and 77 symptomatic cases of DCIS were compared. Patients we re aged 30-76 years (mean, 58 years). RESULTS: Diffuse involvement was seen in 10 patients (13%) with symptoms but in none of the screening- detected group (P < .05). The disease was radiologically more extensiv e in the symptomatic group. Calcifications in the symptomatic group (n = 48) were less likely to have a ductal distribution than those in th e screening-detected group (n = 48) (30 [63%] vs 40 [83%], respectivel y; P < .05). At histologic examination in some cases, the symptomatic group (n = 76) included eight (11%) patients with cribriform-micropapi llary, large-cell tumors (P < .05) and less comedocarcinoma (20 [26%] vs 23 [45%], respectively; P < .05) compared with the screening-detect ed group (n = 51). CONCLUSION. The results show differences in the rad iologic and pathologic features of screening-detected and symptomatic DCIS.