Imaging for the diagnosis and management of ductal carcinoma in situ.

Diagnosis of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) has increased dramatically in parallel with the increased use of screening mammography. There are specific mammographic findings, most associated with shapes (amorphous, fine and coarse pleomorphic, and fine linear) and distributions (linear and segmental) of calcifications that permit a reasonable sensitivity for detection of DCIS without an unreasonable decrease in specificity, especially in view of the dramatic decrease in breast cancer mortality associated with early detection. While some DCIS may never progress to invasive disease, at this time, we cannot make that separation. This should be an active area for research.