Serum cholesterol and the risk of ductal carcinoma in situ: a case-control study.

While multiple studies have investigated the association between serum cholesterol level and breast cancer, the results have generally been conflicting. No prior study has investigated its association with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast. In this hospital-based case-control study, 152 DCIS cases were compared to 242 controls (patients with benign surgical conditions). Unconditional logistic regression was used to compare the serum cholesterol levels, adjusting for relevant covariates. No statistically significant difference was observed for different quartiles of the serum cholesterol level as compared to the lowest quartile. Incidentally observed was an elevated risk for DCIS in postmenopausal versus premenopausal women, and in peri-menopausal versus premenopausal women. There is no apparent association between the serum cholesterol level and breast DCIS.