Perioperative implantation of iridium-192 as the boost technique for stage I and II breast cancer: results of a 10-year study of 655 patients.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the efficacy of perioperative implantation of iridium-192 for stage I and II breast cancer.


METHODS
The authors retrospectively reviewed findings from 655 patients with stage I and II cancer treated with conservative surgery and Ir-192 implantation between 1982 and 1992. Hollow plastic tubes were placed in the tumor bed as a single- or double-plane implant at lumpectomy. Ribbons with Ir-192 seeds were inserted into the tubes 4-6 hours later. The Ir-192 was left in place for approximately 50 hours. External-beam irradiation was given to the whole breast 10-14 days later.


RESULTS
Follow-up ranged from 2 to 146 months. The local control at 10 years for stage I and II disease was 93% and 87%, respectively. The 10-year actuarial survival rate was 92% +/- 1 for stage I disease and 72% +/- 4 for stage II disease. The rate of survival with no evidence of disease for stage I and II disease combined was 82% +/- 1 at 5 years and 75% +/- 3 at 10 years.


CONCLUSIONS
Perioperative implantation produced excellent local control equal to that with electron-beam therapy.
Mansfield
C M
CM
Department of Radiation Oncology and Nuclear Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Bodine Center for Cancer Treatment, Philadelphia, PA 19107-5097.
Komarnicky
L T
LT
Schwartz
G F
GF
Rosenberg
A L
AL
Krishnan
L
L
Jewell
W R
WR
Rosato
F E
FE
Moses
M L
ML
Barbot
D
D
Cohn
H E
HE
D001918:Brachytherapy; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007496:Iridium Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015412:Mastectomy, Segmental; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate
D007496:Iridium Radioisotopes