The National Comprehensive Cancer Network has issued a new guideline for the treatment of breast cancer. The guideline, issued in December of 2006, was developed by a panel of 25 multidisciplinary breast cancer experts from NCCN member institutions.
The guideline has 3 parts: an algorithm that follows the step-by-step clinical decision-making process; a manuscript that discusses the data the recommendations are based on and the issues that were considered by the panel; and a bibliography. Each recommendation is categorized according to both the level of evidence supporting the recommendation and the degree of consensus among the member institutions that the recommendation is appropriate. Some of recommendations for treatment include:
1. When breast MRI is indicated, it should be performed and interpreted by
a expert breast imaging team working in concert with the
multidisciplinary treatment team.
2. The panel added raloxifene as an option for reducing the
risk of invasive breast cancer in postmenopausal women with lobular
carcinoma in situ.