AXILLARY NODE DISSECTION IN DUCTAL CARCINOMA IN-SITU

Intraductal carcinoma of the breast has become a well-defined entity t hat has been more frequently diagnosed since the introduction of mammo graphy. For many years, the usual treatment has been mastectomy, often with axillary lymph-node dissection. Concurrent with documentation th at breast conservation treatment has been effective for many invasive breast cancers, such treatment has been introduced fr noninvasive brea st cancers (ductal carcinoma in situ and lobular cancer in situ). Howe ver, there is no basis for axillary dissection because tumor cells are contained by the basement membrane and should not metastasize. In thi s study, 107 axillary dissections were carried out, with an average of 20 nodes identified, and a single metastasis was identified.