• UCLA Health
  • myUCLAhealth
  • School of Medicine
UCLA Breast Health

UCLA Breast Health

UCLA Breast Health
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
  • Locations
    • Beverly Hills
    • Burbank
    • Encino
    • Laguna Hills
    • City of Orange
    • Pasadena
    • Porter Ranch
    • Santa Clarita
    • Santa Monica
    • Torrance
    • Westwood
  • For Patients
    • COVID-19
    • Breast Health Information & Guidelines
    • Breast Wire Localization (PDF)
    • What to Expect When Diagnosed with Breast Cancer
    • Breast Cancer Treatment Options
    • Patient Stories
    • Share Your Story
    • Breast Health Intake Form
    • Billing
    • Radiology Connection
    • Simms Mann Center
    • Breast Cancer Awareness Month
  • Patient Education
  • Breast Health Services
    • Benign Breast Disease
    • Breast Imaging
    • Breast Cancer Surgery
    • Breast Reconstruction
    • Cancer Genetics
    • Radiation Oncology
    • Medical Oncology
    • High Risk Breast Clinic
    • Breast Pathology
  • Breast Cancer
    • Risk Factors
    • Diagnosis
    • Treatment
    • DCIS
    • LCIS
  • Our Expert Care Team
    • Breast Surgeons
    • Radiation Oncologists
    • Medical Oncologists
    • Plastic Surgeons
    • Breast Imaging
    • Genetic Counselors
    • Breast Pathologists
    • Simms Mann
  • Make a Gift
  • UCLA Health
  • myUCLAhealth
  • School of Medicine

UCLA Breast Health

Breast Cancer

Breast Cancer

Breast Cancer

  • Risk Factors
  • Diagnosis
  • Treatment
  • DCIS
  • LCIS
  • Risk Factors
  • Diagnosis
  • Treatment
  • DCIS
  • LCIS
  1. Home
  2. Breast Cancer
  3. LCIS

Lobular Carcinoma In Situ (LCIS)

Share this

Affiliated: Breast Cancer | Risk Factors | Diagnosis | Treatment | DCIS | LCIS

Find a Location Near You

800-UCLA-MD1 or 310-825-2631

Overview

Unlike ductal carcinoma in situ or DCIS, LCIS is not considered a precursor to invasive breast cancer so it does not require treatment. If left alone, LCIS does not turn into invasive breast cancer. Rather, LCIS is considered a marker for increased breast cancer risk in either breast, much like family history. Studies suggest that women who are found to have LCIS have an increased risk of breast cancer development of about 1%/year, so a 10% risk in 10 years, 20% risk in 20 years, etc.

Signs and Symptoms

LCIS is typically found incidentally on a biopsy that is done for calcifications or another abnormality found on breast imaging. It rarely causes symptoms.

Diagnosis

Most often, LCIS is diagnosed by a needle biopsy. Patients who are diagnosed with LCIS are often referred to a surgeon for consideration of a surgical biopsy. The reason for this is because in some instances when a larger area of tissue is sampled, a patient can be found to have DCIS or a small invasive cancer co-existing with the LCIS, which would then require treatment. LCIS in and of itself does not need to be removed with surgery. The recommendation for surgical biopsy in this setting is evolving and should be discussed with a breast surgeon, as the ability to sample an area well with a needle biopsy is improving with larger amounts of tissue being removed and multiple samples being taken.

Treatment

Although LCIS does not require treatment, the diagnosis increases a patient’s risk, so consideration of risk-reducing interventions and enhanced breast cancer screening should be discussed. Treatment with hormone blocking therapy has been shown to decrease the risk of breast cancer development in patients with LCIS by 56%. Evaluation by a physician at the UCLA High Risk Clinic would be appropriate to discuss risk-reducing medications. In addition, screening with either bilateral breast ultrasound or MRI in addition to mammography should be considered. Bilateral mastectomies for cancer risk reduction can also be considered although it is not typically recommended.

More recently, a newer form of LCIS has been identified, called pleomorphic LCIS. This is considered different from classic LCIS and appears to behave more like DCIS. For this reason, patients with pleomorphic LCIS should see a breast surgeon to discuss recommended treatment.

Contact Us >

Phone: 800-UCLA-MD1 or 310-825-2631

Like Us on Facebook Follow Us on Twitter Subscribe to Our Videos on YouTube Follow us on Instagram Connect with Us on LinkedIn Follow us on Pinterest
UCLA Health hospitals ranked best hospitals by U.S. News & World Report
  • UCLA Health
  • Find a Doctor
  • School of Medicine
  • School of Nursing
  • UCLA Campus
  • Directory
  • Newsroom
  • Subscribe
  • Patient Stories
  • Giving
  • Careers
  • Volunteer
  • International Services
  • Privacy Practices
  • Nondiscrimination
  • Billing
  • Health Plans
  • Emergency
  • Report Broken Links
  • Terms of Use
  • 1-310-825-2631
  • Maps & Directions
  • Contact Us
  • Your Feedback
  • Report Misconduct
  • Get Social
  • Sitemap
Like Us on Facebook Follow Us on Twitter Subscribe to Our Videos on YouTube Follow us on Instagram Connect with Us on LinkedIn Follow us on Pinterest

Sign in to myUCLAhealth

Learn more about myUCLAhealth