Aug 25, 2017 07:29AM djmammo wrote:

DCIS will not show up on a mammogram unless it has developed calcifications therefore MRI can find it earlier.

Aug 25, 2017 11:59PM djmammo wrote:

Luckynumber47

The short answer is yes. see this page

Excerpt: "It should be noted that not all cases of ductal carcinoma in situ will show microcalcifications. In these situations, high resolution ultrasound can be useful for detecting non-calcified DCIS. However, there would typically have to be some compelling reason to use ultrasound, such as a high risk patient or unusual clinical features. Approximately 10-20% of DCIS cases will not show calcifications at all and about 16% of all breast DCIS is hidden from mammography altogether."

The long answer is DCIS is not cancer yet. It is the last step in the spectrum of breast disease just before invasive carcinoma. It does not metastasize, it is not found in lymph nodes, but it is usually treated with lumpectomy +/- Tamoxifen +/- radiation. This may change in the future.

There are three grades, I,II, and III, the first two are considered "low grade" and the third "high grade". DCIS can progress to invasive cancer in some patients or remain quiescent in others. Of all patients with DCIS no one knows or can tell who will go on to invasive disease so today everyone gets treated. You may have heard the terms "over diagnosis" or "over treatment"? These terms refer to DCIS, especially low grade.

Here is an excerpt from an article at Cancer.Org explaining why it might not be a life threatening situation if DCIS cannot be seen on mammography:

"In ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), the abnormal cells are just in the top layers of cells in the ducts within the breast and haven't invaded any deeper. In some women, DCIS turns into invasive breast cancer, or sometimes an area of DCIS contains invasive cancer. In some women, though, the cells just stay within the ducts and never invade deeper or spread to lymph nodes or other organs. The uncertainty about how DCIS will behave can make it hard to choose the best treatments. Researchers are looking for ways to help with these challenges.

Researchers are studying the use of computers and statistical methods to estimate the odds that a woman's DCIS will become invasive. Decision aids are another approach. They ask a woman with DCIS questions that help her decide which factors (such as survival, preventing recurrence, and side effects) she considers most important in choosing a treatment.

Another recent area of research and debate among breast cancer specialists is whether changing the name of DCIS to one that emphasizes that this is not an invasive cancer could help some women avoid overly aggressive treatment."

Aug 26, 2017 12:36PM - edited Aug 26, 2017 02:17PM by djmammo

Specifics like that about treatment are a bit outside of my field of expertise.

Nov 15, 2017 08:31AM Sjcback wrote:

I am considered high risk, therefore I had an MRI in April 2017. This MRI showed an "area of enhancement". An ultrasound was performed and showed nothing. I had another MRI on 11/8/17. This MRI showed the "area of enhancement " is now larger. I am scheduled for another ultrasound on 11/22/17. Has anyone else experiences this? I keep thinking that it has to be something because it is "larger". What if the ultrasound shows muting again? Should I get a second opinion

Dec 1, 2017 10:03AM - edited Dec 1, 2017 03:16PM by dw0531

Hi djmammo,

Appreciate your lending expertise on the site. Have learned much from your comments. Would welcome your opinion on my situation:

I'm 59, healthy and with no known risks. To date, have never had breast pain before. Over the summer i found a small dent after checking due to breast pain on left bottom inner breast. No lumps and nothing showed on multiple US and 3D Mammo. Went for a breast MRI and got a Birad 3 and reco to come back in 6 months for another (report is below). Was still concerned so went to new breast surgeon for second opinion and she reviewed MRI image of left breast with me and pointed out a line by dent and said it was Mondors disease however original radiologist report below did not note this at all. The long full story is on the site. Here is the Topic: Dent, Pain, No Lump - MRI reveals Mondor Disease

Should I be concerned that original MRI report is not accurate or was not interpreted right? Does Mondors typically show on MRI and would it usually be called out? Thanks very much in advance for any insight you can offer.

MRI Report: BIRAD 3 - return in 6 months.

Breast tissue is heterogeneously dense.

Technique: Magnetic resonance imaging of both breasts was performed with and without contract at 1.5 Tesla. Multiplanar, multisequence technique was used. Post Processing include multiple subtractions.

Finding 1: Several scattered small cysts in the left breast Impression: Cysts in the left breast are benign.

Finding 2: Focus of enhancement measuring 4 mm in the middle upper quadrant of the right breast. Impression: Probably Benign. Follow up recommended in 6 months.

thanks,

DW