title: Conservative treatment of breast cancer: modified irradiation technique for women with large breasts.
abstract: Seven patients with large, pendulous breasts received external beam irradiation to the whole breast (50 Gy in 25 fractions plus boost) after lumpectomy. A special breast holding mask was shaped for each patient. Three-dimensional treatment plans and dose-volume histograms of the same patient with and without a mask were compared. Day-to-day variance was checked. This technique provides improvements in dose homogeneity, reproducibility, and sparing of normal tissues. Cosmetic outcome at present is good.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Radiology, University of Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zierhut
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Flentje
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Frank
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Oetzel
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wannenmacher
mesh_terms: D001940:Breast / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015412:Mastectomy, Segmental; D008961:Models, Structural; D011874:Radiometry; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000379:methods; D011880:Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D011882:Radiotherapy, High-Energy