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The Global Insight

What is Comedo type necrosis

Author

William Harris

Updated on April 02, 2026

High-grade DCIS is sometimes described as “comedo” or “comedo necrosis.” Comedo refers to areas of dead (necrotic) cancer cells, which build up inside the tumor. When cancer cells grow quickly, some cells don’t get enough nourishment. These starved cells can die off, leaving areas of necrosis.

What is comedo type DCIS?

Comedo-DCIS is a histologic subtype of preinvasive breast neoplasia that is characterized by prominent apoptotic cell death and has greater malignant potential than other DCIS subtypes. We investigated the mechanisms of apoptosis in comedo-DCIS and its role in conversion of comedo-DCIS to invasive cancer.

What is best treatment for high grade DCIS?

Radiation therapy Treatment of DCIS has a high likelihood of success, in most instances removing the tumor and preventing any recurrence. In most people, treatment options for DCIS include: Breast-conserving surgery (lumpectomy) and radiation therapy. Breast-removing surgery (mastectomy)

How long does it take for high grade DCIS to become invasive?

The largest studies on the natural history of DCIS suggest that more than 50% of patients with high-grade DCIS have the potential to progress to an invasive carcinoma in less than 5 years if left untreated, while low-grade DCIS has a similar progression but in a small percentage of patients (35–50%) and in a more …

Why is comedo DCIS called comedo?

As these starved cells die off, a build up of dead cancer cells will begin to form inside the tumor. These groups of necrotic cells are often referred to as comedones, hence the classification of this type of high-grade DCIS as “comedo necrosis”.

What comedo means?

Definition of comedo : a small bump or blemish on the skin (as of the face or back) usually containing a plug of sebum in a skin pore: such as. a or open comedo : blackhead sense 1. b or closed comedo : whitehead.

What causes comedo necrosis?

High-grade DCIS is sometimes described as “comedo” or “comedo necrosis.” Comedo refers to areas of dead (necrotic) cancer cells, which build up inside the tumor. When cancer cells grow quickly, some cells don’t get enough nourishment. These starved cells can die off, leaving areas of necrosis.

Is DCIS grade 3 bad?

DCIS that is high grade, is nuclear grade 3, or has a high mitotic rate is more likely to come back (recur) after it is removed with surgery. DCIS that is low grade, is nuclear grade 1, or has a low mitotic rate is less likely to come back after surgery.

Can DCIS spread after biopsy?

Because DCIS is not an invasive cancer and cannot spread to other parts of the body, whole body treatments, like chemotherapy, are not indicated for this stage of disease.

Is high grade DCIS curable?

In spite of the unknown, the overall prognosis for DCIS is excellent with appropriate surgical and oncologic management (approximately 98% long-term survival). DCIS is typically treated with wide surgical resection with or without radiation therapy; there is an evolving role for hormonal therapy.

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Is chemo needed for DCIS?

Chemotherapy, a form of treatment that sends anti-cancer medications throughout the body, is generally not needed for DCIS. DCIS is non-invasive and remains within the breast duct, so there is no need to treat cancer cells that might have traveled to other areas of the body.

Is Tamoxifen necessary for DCIS?

Do I still need to take tamoxifen? Since your ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) was treated with a mastectomy, tamoxifen wouldn’t be used to reduce your chance of a local recurrence. Rather, it would be used to reduce your risk of developing a breast cancer in the opposite breast—in other words, for risk reduction.

Does DCIS come back after mastectomy?

Recurrence is rare following mastectomy for DCIS. Nevertheless, there remains a need to follow patients for in-breast, nodal, or contralateral breast events, which can occur long after the index DCIS has been treated.

How are comedones formed?

Comedones arise when cells lining the sebaceous duct proliferate (cornification), and there is increased sebum production. A comedo is formed by the debris blocking the sebaceous duct and hair follicle. It is now known that comedones also involve inflammation (see causes of acne).

What does DCIS look like on a mammogram?

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) On a mammogram, DCIS usually looks like a cluster of microcalcifications. It can be hard to know from a mammogram whether the cluster is DCIS or invasive breast cancer. A cluster of microcalcifications can also be a benign (not cancer) finding on a mammogram.

What is medullary tumor?

Medullary carcinoma of the thyroid is cancer of the thyroid gland that starts in cells that release a hormone called calcitonin. These cells are called “C” cells. The thyroid gland is located inside the front of your lower neck.

Do all breast cancers start as DCIS?

So DCIS can present in numerous different ways. About 20 percent of all breast cancer, 1 in 5 breast cancers will be a DCIS. And a majority of the time these are what are picked up on a mammogram because it’s the earliest signs of a breast cancer.

Is infiltrating ductal carcinoma curable?

In most cases, surgery is the first treatment for IDC. However, if the tumor is large or the cancer has spread to many lymph nodes or other parts of the body, treatments such as chemotherapy or hormonal therapy may be given first to shrink the cancer.

Should I worry about calcifications in breast?

Breast calcifications can indicate early breast cancer, which highlights the importance of having regular screening mammograms. However, most calcifications are benign and do not need any follow-up investigations or treatment.

What does Cicatrix mean in English?

Definition of cicatrix 1 : a scar resulting from formation and contraction of fibrous tissue in a wound. 2 : a mark resembling a scar especially when caused by the previous attachment of an organ or part (such as a leaf)

Are pustules painful?

Pustules are easy to identify. They appear as small bumps on the surface of your skin. The bumps are usually white or red with white in the center. They may be painful to the touch, and the skin around the bump may be red and inflamed.

What does a Comedone look like?

They look like small white or flesh-colored dots. All types of comedones feel bumpy to the touch. According to DermNet New Zealand, comedonal acne is most common on your chin and forehead.

What happens if DCIS is left untreated?

The cells in DCIS are cancer cells. If left untreated, they may spread out of the milk duct into the breast tissue. If this happens, DCIS has become invasive (or infiltrating) cancer, which in turn can spread to lymph nodes or to other parts of the body.

Is DCIS malignant or benign?

If these abnormal cells, which are uncontrollably growing, stay inside the duct, they are referred to as Ductal Carcinoma In-Situ (DCIS). They are ductal cells that have become malignant, but they have remained in their original place (in-situ) and are thus a noninvasive cancer.

What are the chances of getting DCIS in the other breast?

After a DCIS diagnosis in one breast, the average risk of developing either DCIS or invasive breast cancer in the OPPOSITE breast is small — under 1% each year. The risk is higher for women who have an abnormal breast cancer gene (BRCA1 or BRCA2).

How fast can DCIS spread?

Grade 1 DCIS is almost always ER and PR positive and is a very slow growing form of cancer. It can take years, even decades, to see progression of the disease. In some cases, it may take such a long time to spread beyond the breast duct that it is not an event that will happen during a person’s lifetime.

Does DCIS have stages?

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is a stage 0 breast tumor. Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) used to be categorized as stage 0, but this has been changed because it is not cancer. Still, it does indicate a higher risk of breast cancer.

How many times can you have DCIS?

The chances of a recurrence are under 30%. Women who have breast-conserving surgery (lumpectomy) for DCIS without radiation therapy have about a 25% to 30% chance of having a recurrence at some point in the future.

What is the survival rate for high grade DCIS?

Multivariate analysis found that high grade DCIS is the only independent risk factors for margin involvement (HR 2.55, 95% CI 1.02-6.42). After median follow-up of 106 months (6-223 months), the overall survival was 97%.

How long can you wait for DCIS surgery?

The researchers assessed overall survival using five time intervals representing delays to surgery: less than 30 days, 31-60 days, 61-90 days, 91-120 days, or 121-365 days. Overall survival was 95.8 percent, with a median delay from diagnosis to surgery of 38 days.

Can DCIS come back after radiation?

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is a low-risk form of early-stage breast cancer. Women with DCIS can have radiation after the tumor is removed to lower the risk that the cancer could come back. A new study provides more evidence that radiation after surgery can greatly reduce the chance of DCIS returning.