Modern concepts of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and its diagnosis through percutaneous biopsy.

The incidence of ductal breast carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is increasing and currently lies at about 15% of all breast cancers. Detection of DCIS reduces the subsequent incidence of invasive ductal carcinoma. Patients with Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) category 4 lesions are best served by minimally invasive biopsies to improve the precision of diagnosing DCIS lesions. Vacuum-assisted biopsies have the greatest sensitivity and specificity of the biopsy techniques and reduce tumor upgrading of DCIS lesions at operation by at least half compared with core-needle biopsy. Moreover, vacuum-assisted biopsies have proved to be safe and reduce health care costs. Since they provide a maximum of preoperative information, vacuum-assisted biopsies could improve outcomes in patients with DCIS.