Long-term results of wide-field brachytherapy as the sole method of radiation therapy after segmental mastectomy for T(is,1,2) breast cancer.
BACKGROUND
We hypothesized that wide-field brachytherapy (BRT) after margin negative excision would result in complication rates, local recurrence rates, and cosmesis scores equivalent to external beam radiotherapy (ERT).


METHODS
Patients with T(is,1,2) tumors less than or equal to 4 cm, 0 to 3 positive axillary nodes, and negative inked surgical margins were entered prospectively into BRT phase I/II trial. Patients who met the eligibility criteria for BRT but were treated with ERT during the same time period were retrospectively identified as controls. A blinded panel of healthcare professionals graded cosmetic outcome.


RESULTS
Fifty patients with 51 breast cancers received BRT from January 1992 to October 1993. We identified 94 patients eligible for BRT but concurrently treated with ERT. At a median follow-up of 75 months, the two groups were similar for grade III treatment toxicities, local/regional recurrence rates, and cosmesis scores.


CONCLUSIONS
For selected breast cancer patients undergoing breast-conserving therapy, BRT is an attractive alternative to ERT.
King
T A
TA
Department of Surgery and Department of Radiation Oncology, Ochsner Clinic and Alton Ochsner Medical Foundation, New Orleans, Louisiana 70121, USA.
Bolton
J S
JS
Kuske
R R
RR
Fuhrman
G M
GM
Scroggins
T G
TG
Jiang
X Z
XZ
D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000379:methods*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D015412:Mastectomy, Segmental; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome