Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS)

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Definition

By Mayo Clinic staff

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Illustration breast, including lymph nodes, lobules and ducts 
Breast anatomy

Although it sounds like cancer, lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) is actually an indicator that you have a higher chance of developing breast cancer in the future. LCIS is an area of abnormal tissue growth that occurs within — and stays within — the lobules or milk glands located at the end of the breast ducts.

LCIS usually doesn't show up on mammograms. The condition is most often discovered as a result of a biopsy done for another reason, such as a suspicious breast lump or an abnormal mammogram.

Women with LCIS have a 10 to 20 percent lifetime risk of developing invasive breast cancer in either breast. Fortunately, effective screening and treatment options are available to reduce the risk of invasive breast cancer in women with LCIS.

References
  1. Sabel MS. Lobular carcinoma in situ. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 9, 2009.
  2. Ableoff MD, et al. Cancer of the breast. In: Abeloff MD, et al. Abeloff's Clinical Oncology. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/136909859-11/840302961/1709/129.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-443-06694-8..50099-3_4050. Accessed May 9, 2009.
  3. LCIS — lobular carcinoma in situ. Breastcancer.org. http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/types/lcis/index.jsp. Accessed May 9, 2009.
  4. Can breast cancer be found early? American Cancer Society. Accessed May 8, 2009.
  5. Symptoms and diagnosis of LCIS. Breastcancer.org. http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/types/lcis/symptoms_diagnosis.jsp. Accessed May 9, 2009.
  6. LCIS and breast cancer risk. Breastcancer.org. http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/types/lcis/cancer_risk.jsp. Accessed May 9, 2009.
  7. Treatment for LCIS. Breastcancer.org. http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/types/lcis/treatment.jsp. Accessed May 9, 2009.
  8. Meisner ALW, et al. Breast disease: Benign and malignant. Medical Clinics of North America. 2008;92:1115.
  9. Arpino G, et al. Premalignant and in situ breast disease: Biology and clinical implications. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2005;143:446.

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June 24, 2009

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