Breast cancer: primary treatment with external-beam radiation therapy and high-dose-rate iridium implantation.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate a treatment for breast cancer and to demonstrate the safe use of iridium-192 high-dose-rate (HDR) implantations.


METHODS
In December 1984, the authors began to use HDR Ir-192 brachytherapy to deliver an interstitial boost to the primary site in conservative breast cancer treatment. By December 1989, 212 patients with 216 tumors were treated with external-beam irradiation of 45-50 Gy to the whole breast, which was followed by an interstitial 10-Gy boost. Median follow-up was 62 months (range, 36-101 months).


RESULTS
Ten patients (10 of 216 breasts, 4.6%) developed local tumor recurrences, and 36 (17.0%) had distant metastases. At 5 years, overall survival was 88%, local tumor control was 96%, and disease-free survival was 81%. There were no serious complications.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of an HDR source as a boost to the primary tumor site after external-beam radiation therapy with a dose of 10 Gy in one fraction is a safe procedure and does not negatively affect cosmetic appearance.
Department of Radiation Oncology, Barmherzige Schwestern Hospital, Linz, Austria.
J
J
Hammer
D H
DH
Seewald
C
C
Track
J P
JP
Zoidl
W
W
Labeck
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007496:Iridium Radioisotopes; D008875:Middle Aged; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D015996:Survival Rate
D007496:Iridium Radioisotopes