Mammographic and ultrasonographic comparison between intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) and conventional external radiotherapy (RT) in limited-stage breast cancer, conservatively treated.
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.
Della Sala
Sabino Walter
SW
U.O. di Radiodiagnostica, Ospedale Santa Chiara, Dipartimento di Radiodiagnostica, Azienda Provinciale per i Servizi Sanitari, Trento, Italy. swdellasala@libero.it
Pellegrini
Marco
M
Bernardi
Daniela
D
Franzoso
Francesca
F
Valentini
Marvi
M
Di Michele
Stefano
S
Centonze
Maurizio
M
Mussari
Salvatore
S
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