Circulation in the breast after radiotherapy and breast conservation.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the breast circulation after radiotherapy and breast conservation.


METHODS
Open clinical study.


METHODS
University hospital, Sweden.


METHODS
24 patients with breast cancer (mean age 54 years, range 41-64).


METHODS
The glandular and the subcutaneous circulation in the breast were measured by Xenon (133Xe) clearance and the skin circulation by laser Doppler fluxmetry (LDF) two to five years after radiotherapy (50 Gy) following lumpectomy. The subcutaneous circulation was measured 2 cm above and medial or lateral to the areolar border and the glandular circulation 2 cm below and medial or lateral to the areolar border in the quadrant not previously operated on for carcinoma. The skin circulation was measured at the corresponding sites.


METHODS
Circulation in the subcutaneous and glandular tissue measured by 133Xe clearance and in the skin by LDF.


RESULTS
The subcutaneous circulation, expressed as the ratio of 133Xe clearance in the operated irradiated: non-operated non-irradiated breast, was 0.88 (0.94) (median, interquartile range) and the glandular circulation 0.93 (0.75). The skin circulation ratios over the corresponding areas were 1.00 (0.37) and 1.00 (0.38), respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Radiotherapy after breast conservation surgery does not lead to long-term changes in basal glandular, subcutaneous, or skin circulation in the breast.
Perbeck
L G
LG
Department of Surgery, Huddinge University Hospital, Sweden.
Celebioglu
F
F
Danielsson
R
R
Boné
B
B
Aastrup
M
M
Svensson
L
L
D000328:Adult; D001940:Breast / Q000098:blood supply*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015412:Mastectomy, Segmental; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply