The " Standards, Options and Recommendations " (SOR) project, started in 1993, is a collaboration between the Federation of French Cancer Centres (FNCLCC), the 20 French cancer centres, and specialists from French public universities, general hospitals and private clinics. The main objective is the development of clinical practice guidelines to improve the quality of health care and the outcome of cancer patients. The methodology is based on a literature review and critical appraisal by a multidisciplinary group of experts, with feedback from specialists in cancer care delivery. Objectives : To update the Standards, Options and Recommendations clinical practice guidelines for the management of ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast (DCIS). Methods : The working group identified the questions requiring up-dating from the previous guideline. Medline(r) and Embase(r) were searched using specific search strategies from year 1996 to year 2003. In addition several Internet sites were searched in October 2002. Results : Clinical guidelines have been defined for the management of diagnosis, treatment, follow-up, and treatment of recurrence of DCIS. The issue of hormone replacement therapy has also been addressed in the context of DCIS.