Outcomes for women with ductal carcinoma-in-situ and a positive sentinel node: a multi-institutional audit.

Background: A positive sentinel lymph node (SLN) has been reported in 6% to 13% of patients with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). Although it is well established that nodal status for invasive disease is prognostically important, the clinical relevance of a positive SLN in patients with DCIS remains undetermined.

Methods: SLN biopsy was performed on 470 high-risk patients with DCIS (22% of all patients with DCIS) at 3 institutions.