Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is one of the most debatable entities among breast lesions. It is difficult to standardise the management due to improvemenents in imaging studies, better definition of pathological subtypes, wide spectrum of treatment modalities.

Although it seems to be a precursor lesion for invasive breast ca, in patients with merely biopsy performed or untreated after ineffectively resection, invasive breast cancer develops in 40%. Moreover, in 10-25% of patients with DCIS, invasive breast cancer is also defined.

Mamograpy is stil the choice of diagnosis, although magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been widely used. Core biopsy and radioisotope/dye techniques for tumor identification is also gaining acceptance.

Mastectomy and breast conserving surgery (BCS) are widely used in treatment. Radiotherapy in treatment is still one of the most debatable subjects among authors although the benefits are proven.

Due to multimodality of treatment options current management of diagnosis and treatment of DCIS is reviewed with the light of the literature.

Keywords: Breast lesion, ductal carcinoma in situ, mastectomy, breast conserving surgery, radiotherapy