title: Mammographic and ultrasonographic comparison between intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) and conventional external radiotherapy (RT) in limited-stage breast cancer, conservatively treated.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Assess mammographic and echographic modifications in mild cases of breast cancer (suitable for conservative surgery) after intraoperatory radio treatment (IORT) as opposed to conventional post-operative radiotherapy (RT).
  
  
  METHODS
  We report data from 45 patients in each group (IORT and RT). All patients were examined using the same mammographic and ecographic equipment at 6, 12 and 24 months after treatment. We focused on structural alterations, edema and others, and quantified them using pre-established (unbiased) protocols. Both patient examination and subsequent assessment of the results were performed by radiologists with exepertise in breast cancer evaluation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 6 months, IORT patients showed slightly more pronounced structural distortions and oedema than RT patients; these differences became more apparent at 12 months, with the addition of fat necrosis and/or calcifications. These alterations were evident and consistent under both mammographic and ecographic examination, and became even more pronounced at 24 months. At this stage, RT patients showed minimal alterations of the tissue (apart from normal post-surgical scarring), whereas IORT patients showed virtually no improvement over the preceding 12-month period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We show radiological alterations in post-operative breast cancer are significantly more pronounced in patients treated with IORT as opposed to RT.
authors.affiliation: U.O. di Radiodiagnostica, Ospedale Santa Chiara, Dipartimento di Radiodiagnostica, Azienda Provinciale per i Servizi Sanitari, Trento, Italy. swdellasala@libero.it
authors.forename: Sabino Walter
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Della Sala
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pellegrini
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bernardi
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Franzoso
authors.forename: Marvi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Valentini
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Di Michele
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Centonze
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mussari
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007432:Intraoperative Period; D008327:Mammography; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011184:Postoperative Period; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016217:Ultrasonography, Mammary