Difficulties in diagnosing DCIS means some are treated who do not truly have DCIS

July 22, 2010

Some women diagnosed with and treated for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) may actually not have had DCIS at all, and were misdiagnosed, according to a New York Times report. DCIS, a noninvasive condition, has been the focus of much controversy over how best to treat, or whether to even treat it at all, since the likelihood of it progressing to invasive disease is unknown. The New York Times article highlights several cases in which women were diagnosed with DCIS, treated with surgery and radiation, and then later found out that they never had DCIS to begin with. These misdiagnoses were due to inaccurate pathology readings after a breast biopsy. This article highlights the limitations of our current early breast cancer detection tools. It also highlights the importance of women getting a second, independent opinion on their diagnosis prior to exploring treatment options.

For more information, read NBCC's Guide to Quality Breast Cancer Care.