Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the results of breast-conserving therapy (BCT), defined as the combination of breast-conserving surgery with axillary dissection and definitive radiation therapy for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS).
Methods: Between November 1987 and March 1998, 33 patients with DCIS undergoing BCT at our hospital were examined. The mean age was 48. All patients underwent quadrantectomy or wide excision as well as axillary dissection. Radiation therapy consisted of 50 Gy to the ipsilateral whole breast. Boost irradiation of 10 Gy was given to 15 patients with close or positive margins. Nearly all patients received adjuvant chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil or its derivatives and adjuvant endocrine therapy with tamoxifen for 2 years.
Results: The minimum and median follow-up periods were 32 and 80 months, respectively. All patients but one were followed. Only one patient had a non-invasive local recurrence, 23 months after her operation. This patient was salvaged with simple mastectomy. Her prognostic index score was 8. The five-year local control rate was 97%. No serious acute or late complications were noted.
Conclusion: The results of this retrospective study substantiate favorable data and appear to confirm the efficacy and reasonable local recurrence rate of BCT for the treatment of DCIS.