Overtreatment in surgery – does it concern also the patients with ductal breast carcinoma in situ

Abstract

Overtreatment means treatment that goes beyond current standards, and patients with any disease can be overtreated. Overtreatment is also given to patients with cancer, including those who need surgery. Overtreatment is closely related to the problem of overdiagnosis. In patients with cancer, unnecessary surgery may cause complications and generates unnecessary costs. The size of the problem of unnecessary surgery in patients with cancer can best be shown among patients with the most common cancers, which dedicated screening programs. Breast cancer patients, particularly those with pre-invasive types of the tumor, who typically have ductal carcinoma in situ (80%), are likely to undergo unnecessary surgery. We describe the most common clinical problems caused by overtreating patients with ductal carcinoma in situ.