Faculty Collaboration Database

Prone whole-breast irradiation using three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy in women undergoing breast conservation for early disease yields high rates of excellent to good cosmetic outcomes in patients with large and/or pendulous breasts. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2012 Jul 01;83(3):821-8

Date

01/03/2012

Pubmed ID

22208973

Pubmed Central ID

PMC3845369

DOI

10.1016/j.ijrobp.2011.08.020

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-84861649296 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   46 Citations

Abstract

PURPOSE: To report our institution's experience using prone positioning for three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) to deliver post-lumpectomy whole breast irradiation (WBI) in a cohort of women with large and/or pendulous breasts, to determine the rate of acute and late toxicities and, more specifically, cosmetic outcomes. We hypothesized that using 3D-CRT for WBI in the prone position would reduce or eliminate patient and breast size as negative prognostic indicators for toxicities associated with WBI.

METHODS AND MATERIALS: From 1998 to 2006, 110 cases were treated with prone WBI using 3D-CRT. The lumpectomy, breast target volumes, heart, and lung were contoured on all computed tomography scans. A dose of 45-50 Gy was prescribed to the breast volume using standard fractionation schemes. The planning goals were ≥95% of prescription to 95% of the breast volume, and 100% of boost dose to 95% of lumpectomy planning target volume. Toxicities and cosmesis were prospectively scored using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Effects Version 3.0 and the Harvard Scale. The median follow-up was 40 months.

RESULTS: The median body mass index (BMI) was 33.6 kg/m(2), and median breast volume was 1396 cm(3). The worst toxicity encountered during radiation was Grade 3 dermatitis in 5% of our patient population. Moist desquamation occurred in 16% of patients, with only 2% of patients with moist desquamation outside the inframammary/axillary folds. Eleven percent of patients had Grade ≥2 late toxicities, including Grade 3 induration/fibrosis in 2%. Excellent to good cosmesis was achieved in 89%. Higher BMI was associated with moist desquamation and breast pain, but BMI and breast volume did not impact fibrosis or excellent to good cosmesis.

CONCLUSION: In patients with higher BMI and/or large-pendulous breasts, delivering prone WBI using 3D-CRT results in favorable toxicity profiles and high excellent to good cosmesis rates. Higher BMI was associated with moist desquamation, but prone positioning removed BMI and breast size as factors for poorer cosmetic outcomes. This series adds to the growing literature demonstrating that prone WBI may be advantageous in select patients.

Author List

Bergom C, Kelly T, Morrow N, Wilson JF, Walker A, Xiang Q, Ahn KW, White J

Authors

Kwang Woo Ahn PhD Professor in the Institute for Health and Equity department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Tracy R. Kelly MD Associate Professor in the Radiation Oncology department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Natalya V. Morrow PhD Assistant Professor in the Radiation Oncology department at Medical College of Wisconsin
J Frank Wilson MD Professor Emeritus in the Radiation Oncology department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Body Mass Index
Breast
Breast Neoplasms
Combined Modality Therapy
Esthetics
Female
Fibrosis
Follow-Up Studies
Heart
Humans
Lung
Mastectomy, Segmental
Middle Aged
Organ Size
Organs at Risk
Patient Positioning
Prone Position
Radiation Injuries
Radiography
Radiotherapy, Conformal
Tumor Burden