A new option for early breast cancer patients previously irradiated for Hodgkin's disease: intraoperative radiotherapy with electrons (ELIOT).
BACKGROUND
Patients who have undergone mantle radiotherapy for Hodgkin's disease (HD) are at increased risk of developing breast cancer. In such patients, breast conserving surgery (BCS) followed by breast irradiation is generally considered contraindicated owing to the high cumulative radiation dose. Mastectomy is therefore recommended as the first option treatment in these women.


METHODS
Six patients affected by early breast cancer previously treated with mantle radiation for HD underwent BCS associated with full-dose intraoperative radiotherapy with electrons (ELIOT).


RESULTS
A total dose of 21 Gy (prescribed at 90% isodose) in five cases and 17 Gy (at 100% isodose) in one case were delivered directly to the mammary gland without acute complications and with good cosmetic results. After an average of 30.8 months of follow up, no late sequelae were observed and the patients are free of disease.


CONCLUSIONS
In patients previously irradiated for HD, ELIOT can avoid repeat irradiation of the whole breast, permit BCS and decrease the number of avoidable mastectomies.
Intra
Mattia
M
Department of Breast Surgery, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy. mattia.intra@ieo.it
Gentilini
Oreste
O
Veronesi
Paolo
P
Ciocca
Mario
M
Luini
Alberto
A
Lazzari
Roberta
R
Soteldo
Javier
J
Farante
Gabriel
G
Orecchia
Roberto
R
Veronesi
Umberto
U
D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004583:Electrons / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D007432:Intraoperative Period; D016609:Neoplasms, Second Primary / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D010315:Particle Accelerators; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage