American Radium Society Appropriate Use Criteria Report on Radiation in the Management of Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS) of the Breast.

Summary: Imagine finding a tiny, early-stage spot in the breast called DCIS. It is not invasive cancer, but doctors want to make sure it never becomes invasive. To do this, they often use radiation after removing the spot with surgery. A team of experts looked at all the research and found that radiation cuts the chance of the spot coming back by at least half! The most important thing is making sure the edges around the removed spot are clear of disease. If they aren't, doctors might use a little extra radiation. New tests can also help doctors and patients decide if radiation is the best choice for them.