Recurrence outcomes after omission of postoperative radiotherapy following breast-conserving surgery for ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast: a multicenter, retrospective study in Korea (KROG 16-02)

Purpose To evaluate the loco-regional recurrence (LRR) rate after breast-conserving surgery without postoperative radiotherapy (RT) for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast. Methods Between 2000 and 2010, 311 DCIS patients from 9 institutions were analyzed retrospectively. The median age was 47 (range, 20–82). The median tumor size was 7 mm (range, 0.01–76). Margin width was <1 cm in 85 patients (27.3%), and nuclear grade was high in 37 patients (11.9%). Two hundred and three patients (65.3%) received tamoxifen. Results With a median follow-up of 74 months (range, 5–189), there were 11 local recurrences (invasive carcinoma in 6 and DCIS in 5) and 1 regional recurrence. The 7-year LRR rate was 3.8%. On univariate analysis, age and margin width were significant risk factors influencing LRR ( p = 0.017 and 0.014, respectively). When age and margin width were combined among 211 patients whose margin width were available, the 7-year LRR rates were as follows ( p < 0.001): (1) 0% in patients with age >50 years and any margin width status ( n = 64), (2) 1.2% in age ≤50 years and margin width ≥1 cm ( n = 93), (3) 13.1% in age ≤50 years and margin width <1 cm ( n = 54). Conclusions The LRR rate was very low in selected DCIS patients treated with breast-conserving surgery without postoperative RT. However, adjuvant RT should be considered for those with age ≤50 years and margin width <1 cm.