Correlation between type and grade of ductal carcinoma in situ and concomitant invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast.

Morphological analysis was made in a group of 52 breast cancers, in which ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) was coexisted with invasive ductal carcinoma. DCIS was graded according to the cytological, Van Nuys and Holland classifications sharing a criterion of evaluating the degree of cancer cell nuclear atypia, and the histological classification. Histological grading of invasive breast carcinoma was based upon the modified Bloom and Richardson classification. Statistical analysis revealed a significant correlation between grades of invasive carcinoma and concomitant DCIS. This indicates a high prognostic value of above-mentioned DCIS classifications, proving their clinical usefulness. The Van Nuys classification should be recommended as its criteria are precise and there is no need to isolate DCIS with intermediate nuclear atypia, which improves assessment of the lesion.