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Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute



"Confronting Cancer Through Art" is an exhibition by people whose lives have been touched by cancer.


This week we are featuring artwork by:
Jacqueline Kniewasser
Pontypool, Ontario


Visit the Children's Art Gallery

This week's artwork was donated by a pediatric cancer patient who received treatment for cancer at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

Ductal Carcinoma in situ of The Breast: What Else Do I Need To Know To Understand The Diagnosis Of Ductal Carcinoma in situ?

   Authors: Margaret M. Barnes, M.D
   Affiliations: Department of Radiation Oncology,
   University of Pennsylvania Cancer Center
   Posting Date - March 7, 1997
Last Revision Date: Sunday, 14-Feb-1999 13:54:25 EST
Copyright © 1994-1999, The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania

There are several ways in which DCIS acts differently than invasive breast cancer. One way is that DCIS tends to spread along the breast ducts. As it spreads along the ducts, it can travel into a large portion of the breast through the duct system. Also, DCIS has a tendency to be multifocal. This means that the tumor can be found in more than one part of the breast--in reality, there may be more than one tumor growth in the breast tissue. The multifocal aspect of DCIS very much influences how these tumors are treated.


Spread of DCIS through duct system with multifocal lesions

In contrast, invasive breast cancers are much less likely to be multifocal ( it can happen, but not that often).


Single invasive ductal carcinoma


Table 1

Differences Between DCIS And Invasive Breast Cancer

FeatureDCISInvasive Breast Cancer
MultifocalityYesRare
Spread to axilary lymph nodesNoOften
Spread to distant organsNoOften

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