BACKGROUNDThe role of internal mammary nodes (IMN) irradiation for breast cancer patients after mastectomy remains controversial. This study aimed to compare different techniques for radiation of the chest wall (CW) and IMN post-mastectomy for left-breast cancer patients in terms of dose homogeneity within planning target volume (PTV) and dose to critical structures.

METHODSThirty patients underwent CT simulation, while CW, IMN, left lung, heart and contralateral breast were contoured. Three three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) techniques, namely, standard tangents, partially wide tangents (PWT), and modified PWT techniques plus intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) technique have been used to radiate CW and IMN. In addition to the target coverage and dose homogeneity, we also evaluated the dose to the critical structures including heart, left lung and contralateral breast.

RESULTSAll three 3D-CRT techniques provided satisfactory coverage regarding total PTV. The PWT and the modified PWT gave better coverage of IMN PTV with V(47.5) of (96.83 ± 4.56)% and (95.19 ± 3.90)% compared to standard tangents ((88.16 ± 7.77)%), P < 0.05. The standard tangents also contributed the biggest IMN V(D105%), V(D110%), V(D115%) and V(D120%). The lowest mean dose of the heart was achieved by the modified PWT ((8.47 ± 2.30) Gy), compared with PWT ((11.97 ± 3.54) Gy) and standard tangents ((11.18 ± 2.53) Gy). The mean dose of lung and contralateral breast with the modified PWT was significantly lower than those with PWT. Comparing IMRT with the modified PWT, both techniques provided satisfactory coverage. The conformity indexes (CI) with IMRT (CI1: 0.71 ± 0.02; CI2: 0.64 ± 0.02) were better than those with the modified PWT (CI1: 0.50 ± 0.02; CI2: 0.45 ± 0.02). The mean dose, V(5), V(10) and V(5-10) of heart and left lung with the modified PWT were significantly lower than those with the IMRT. The mean dose and V(D2%) of contralateral breast with the modified PWT were not significantly different from the IMRT (P = 0.868 and P = 0.212).

CONCLUSIONSNo single technique provides both the best CW and IMN coverage with minimum lung and heart dose. The modified PWT technique can be used as a clinical tool for the treatment of the left-sided post-mastectomy breast cancer patients to provide homogeneous target coverage while maintaining low doses to normal tissue.

Breast Neoplasms ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Mastectomy ; Radiotherapy Dosage ; Radiotherapy, Conformal ; methods ; Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated ; methods

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the long term effects of adjuvant radiotherapy for postoperative breast cancer.

METHODSFrom 1985 to 1986, 162 patients with operable breast cancer were randomly given adjuvant radiotherapy according to clinical stage and involving condition of axillary lymph nodes (LN). The radiotherapy group (RG) was irradiated in the supraclavicular area and/or internal mammary area to 50 Gy, while the control group (CG) was not.

RESULTSThe overall 5-, 10- and 15-year survival rates of the RG were 72.0%, 56.1% and 54.3%, while they were 66.3%, 51.3% and 49.4% in the CG (P > 0.05). Clinical stage I-IIIa and positive or negative LN showed no significant difference in the two groups. But in patients with LN(+) > or = 4, the 5-, 10- and 15-year survival rates of the RG were 55.6%, 38.9% and 37.1%, which were higher than the CG of 29.0%, 16.1% and 16.1% (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAdjuvant radiotherapy can improve the prognosis for breast cancer patients with LN(+) > or = 4, but not for LN(-).

Breast Neoplasms ; mortality ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant ; Survival Rate

Breast ; radiation effects ; Breast Neoplasms ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Mastectomy ; Mastectomy, Segmental

OBJECTIVE: To compare the dosimetric differences between volumetric modulated arc therapy and intensity modulated radiotherapy for breast cancer patients after breast-conserving surgery. METHODS: Ten patients who received radiotherapy after breast-conserving surgery were selected. Eclipse planning system was used to design volumetric rotating intensity-modulated (2F-RapidArc) and two field intensity-modulated radiation therapy (2F-IMRT) planning for each patient. 2F-RapidArc plans were made using two partial arcs with gantry rotation from 287°-293° to 152°-162°, and 0° to 90 ° was avoidance sector. The gantry angle of 2F-IMRT were 301°-311° and 125°-135°. The prescription dose was 46 Gy/23 fractions. All plans required 95% of the target volume receiving the prescription dose. The dose distribution of the target, organs at risk, machine unit (MU) and treatment time were compared. RESULTS: 2F-RapidArc and 2F-IMRT plans' uniformity index was 1.12±0.02 and 1.11±0.03 (P=0.282), respectively; conformal index was 0.80±0.03 and 0.65±0.04 (P<0.001), respectively. V110 of plan target volume was 20.98%±14.47% and 10.43%±10.49% (P=0.030), respectively. Compared with the 2F-IMRT, 2F-RapidArc plans had a higher dosimetric parameters for left lung: V5 (48.06%±17.32% vs. 24.23%±6.56%,P=0.001), V10 (28.89±9.28 vs.17.07±4.78%,P=0.004), Dmean [(9.70±2.14) Gy vs. (6.86±1.77) Gy, P=0.002], increased the double lung: V5 (22.85%±7.55% vs. 11.01%± 2.95%,P=0.001), V10 (13.16%±4.33% vs. 7.76%± 2.16%, P=0.006), Dmean [(4.66±0.95) Gy vs. (3.17±0.82) Gy, P=0.001], reduced the left lung: V40 (3.58%±1.46% vs. 6.19%±3.04%, P=0.006), reduced the double lung: V40 (1.61%±0.64% vs. 2.81%± 1.39%,P=0.005), increased cardiac: V5 (39.3%±17.19% vs. 8.79%±4.24%, P<0.001), V10 (21.31%±13.8% vs. 5.73%±3.42%, P=0.002), V20 (7.80%±6.08% vs. 4.05%±2.85%,P=0.018), Dmean [(0.64±0.25) Gy vs. (0.29±1.39) Gy,P<0.001],reduced the heart: V40(0.50%±0.40% vs. 1.86%±1.94%,P=0.037),increased the contralateral breast Dmean [(1.63±1.26) Gy vs. (0.09±0.05) Gy, P=0.004]. Compared with 2F-IMRTplan, 2F-RapidArc increased the treatment time [(132.9±7.2) s vs. (140.3±11.6) s, P=0.030]. Both the machine units were almost the same [(467.0±30.4) MU vs. (494.7±44.9) MU, P=0.094]. CONCLUSION Both 2F-RapidArc and 2F-IMRT plans could reach the clinical requirements. 2F-RapidArc had a better conformal index, reduced the high dose area, but increased the low dose regions of the lung, heart, body area, and increased the average dose of the contralateral breast. The treatment time of 2F-RapidArc was longer than that of 2F-IMRT, and the MU of 2F-RapidArc and 2F-IMRT plans were almost the same.
Breast Neoplasms/surgery* ; Female ; Humans ; Mastectomy, Segmental ; Radiometry ; Radiotherapy Dosage ; Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted ; Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated

To study an automatic plan(AP) method for radiotherapy after breast-conserving surgery based on TiGRT system and and compare with manual plan (MP). The dosimetry parameters of 10 patients and the evaluation of scoring table were analyzed, it was found that the targets dose of AP were better than that of MP, but there was no statistical difference except for CI, The V5, V20 and V30 of affected lungs and whole lungs in AP were lower than all that in MP, the Dmean of hearts was slightly higher than that of MP, but the difference was not statistically significant, the MU of AP was increase by 16.1% compared with MP, the score of AP evaluation was increase by 6.1% compared with MP. So the AP could be programmed and automated while ensuring the quality of the plan, and can be used to design the plans for radiotherapy after breast-conserving surgery.
Breast Neoplasms/surgery* ; Female ; Humans ; Mastectomy, Segmental ; Organs at Risk ; Radiotherapy Dosage ; Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted ; Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated

OBJECTIVETo introduce the application of "tennis racket" flap with fascial pedicle on the healthy chest for radiation ulcer after surgical treatment of breast cancer.

METHODSThe " tennis racket" flap was designed on the healthy chest along the cartilage with fascia pedicle near the sternum. 9 cases were treated. The flaps size ranged from 5.0 cm x 3.5 cm to 13 cm x 11 cm with pedicle size of 2-8 cm in length and 2.0-3.0 cm in width.

RESULTSAll the 9 flaps survived completely with satisfactory appearance. The patients were followed up for 2 months to 3 years without ulcer reoccurrence.

CONCLUSIONSThe "tennis racket" flap has a slender fascial pedicle without major blood vessel. It has the advantages of good flexibility for rotation and large flap size for the reconstruction of the radiation ulcer after surgical treatment of breast cancer.

Breast Neoplasms ; radiotherapy ; Fascia ; Female ; Humans ; Radiodermatitis ; surgery ; Skin Ulcer ; etiology ; surgery ; Sternum ; Surgical Flaps ; Tennis

To get a better understanding of the location, pathophysiology, etiology and prognosis of multiple malignant tumors (MPMT), we evaluated the medical records of 22 patients with MPMT. Our results suggested that radiotherapy and chemotherapy might play an important role in the pathogenesis of MPMT and follow-up is important in detecting a secondary primary malignant tumor (PMT) at an early stage. Surgical removal of tumors is the first-choice therapy for MPMT.
Adenocarcinoma ; drug therapy ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Adult ; Aged ; Breast Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; drug therapy ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Colonic Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasms, Second Primary ; drug therapy ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Prognosis ; Stomach Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; radiotherapy ; surgery

PURPOSE: Some recent trials suggest that postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) may be safely omitted after breast-conserving surgery (BCS) for some patients with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). In this study, we reviewed clinical outcomes of patients with DCIS treated with partial mastectomy (PM) without adjuvant RT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medical records of 28 patients (29 breasts) with DCIS who were treated with PM, but without RT, between April 1991 and December 2010 were retrospectively analyzed. Based on established criteria (2.0 cm or less in size and no comedonecrosis), 18 patients were treated without RT after PM. Seven patients (8 breasts) who did not receive RT due to refusal were also included in this study. Three other patients were excluded because data concerning comedonecrosis were not available. RESULTS: For the 25 patients included in this study, the mean age of the 18 patients who met the criteria was 47.9+/-6.2 years, and 47.6+/-12.7 years for the 7 patients who did not. The mean sizes of the primary tumors were 0.6+/-0.4 cm and 0.9+/-0.3 cm, respectively, in these two groups. Among these 25 patients (26 breasts) treated without RT, we observed no ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence or mortality within a mean follow-up of 84 months. CONCLUSION: Based on this small number of cases, patients with DCIS, who were selected for tumor size less than 2 cm and absence of comedonecrosis, may be treated successfully with BCS; adjuvant RT may be omitted.
Adult ; Breast Neoplasms/*radiotherapy/*surgery ; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating/*radiotherapy/*surgery ; Female ; Humans ; *Mastectomy, Segmental ; Middle Aged ; *Radiotherapy, Adjuvant ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

This is the first preliminary report among two consecutive papers. Partial mastectomy(PM), axillary lymph node dissection(AD) and radiotherapy (RT) were performed on seventeen operable breast cancer patients who had been admitted from April 1991 to March 1992 to the department of surgery, Yongdong Severance Hospital for improved cosmetic appearance and better survival rate. Of seventeen patients, 47% were T1 lesion and 76% were stage I and II. Extensive intraductal component(EIC) within or around the tumor was also analyzed. Twenty nine per cent of the patients were EIC positive. The mean number of axillary lymph nodes was 21.5 after PM with AD and 20.5 after mastectomy. For radiotherapy, 4,500 rad was delivered to the breast parenchyma and 1,600 rad of boost to the primary tumor site using the electron beam method after surgery. All patients have since been living well without any local recurrence and were satisfied with breast preservation for the one-year follow-up period. We concluded that the PM, AD and RT can be another surgical treatment modality of breast cancer. A longer follow-up data will be followed on the second paper.
Breast Neoplasms/radiotherapy/surgery/*therapy ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Human ; *Lymph Node Excision ; *Mastectomy, Segmental ; Radiotherapy/adverse effects

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the dosimetric advantages of postmastectomy electron-beam chest-wall irradiation after left mastectomy in patients with breast cancer.

METHODSElectron-beam chest-wall irradiation and tangential field irradiation were planned using Pinnacle7.4f planning systems for 42 patients with left breast cancer after mastectomy. The total prescribed dose for both plans was 5000 cGy/25 fractions. The dose volume histogram was used to compare the dosimetry of the clinical target volume (CTV) and the organs at risk such as the heart and ipsilateral lung.

RESULTSThe maximum dose (Dmax) of the CTV of electron beam chest-wall irradiation plans was significantly higher than that of tangential field irradiation plans (5562±61 vs 5402±82 cGy, t=6.10, P<0.05). The CTV of the electron beam chest-wall irradiation plans showed better heterogeneity than that of the tangential field irradiation plans, with heterogeneity index of 1.18±0.03 and 1.13±0.18, respectively (t=6.50, P<0.05). Electron beam chest-wall irradiation plans had also a better conformal index of the CTV than tangential field irradiation plans (0.77±0.17 vs 0.57±0.17, t=3.49, P<0.05). The V40 of the ipsilateral lung, the maximum dose of the heart, V30 and V40 of the heart in the electron beam chest-wall irradiation plans were smaller than those of the tangential field irradiation plans [(5.86±3.68)% vs (8.73±3.26)%, t=-2.27, P<0.05; 4839±388 cGy vs 5095±176 cGy, t=-2.32, P<0.05; (2.58±1.50)% vs (7.20±2.62)%, t=-4.70, P<0.05; (1.74±1.23)% vs (4.20±2.51)%, t=-3.50, P<0.05].

CONCLUSIONCompared with the tangential field irradiation plans, electron-beam chest-wall irradiation has better coverage index of the CTV and can decrease the high-dose volume of the normal tissue, but shows a poorer habituation index of the CTV.

Adult ; Breast Neoplasms ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Mastectomy ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Period ; Radiometry ; Radiotherapy Dosage ; Thoracic Wall ; radiation effects