Patients' subjective evaluation of early and late sequelae in patients with breast cancer irradiated with short fractionation for breast conservation therapy: comparison with conventional fractionation.
BACKGROUND
To compare the frequency of "subjective" complications and their severity between conventional and short fractionation and to analyze the differences between the two groups.


METHODS
Data from 350 patients with breast cancer who received breast conservation therapy between 1992 and 2003 were retrospectively analyzed. One hundred and ninety-six patients and 154 patients received 50 Gy in 25 fractions over 35 days (group C) and 44 Gy in 16 fractions over 22 days (group S), respectively. Early sequelae were evaluated at the end of radiation therapy (point A) and 7-10 days after the treatment (point B). Late sequelae were assessed at least 6 months after the end of radiation therapy (point C).


RESULTS
The most commonly observed toxicity at point A was erythema, followed by heat sensation, sense of discomfort, and pain. There were no significant differences in these symptoms between the two groups. The frequency of these symptoms hardly changed between points A and B. At point C a sense of hardness more frequently appeared in group S than in group C with a significant difference. Other commonly noted symptoms had no significant difference between the two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Short fractionation results in acceptable patient "subjective" sequelae comparable to the sequelae experienced following conventional fractionation.
Inomata
Taisuke
T
Department of Radiology, Osaka Medical College, 2-7 Daigaku-machi, Takatsuki-shi, Osaka 569-8686, Japan. rad052@poh.osaka-med.ac.jp
Narabayashi
Isamu
I
Inada
Yuki
Y
Shimbo
Taiju
T
Takahashi
Masatsugu
M
Tatsumi
Toshiaki
T
Uesugi
Yasuo
Y
Kariya
Shinji
S
Nishioka
Akihito
A
Ogawa
Yasuhiro
Y
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000628:therapy; D019583:Dose Fractionation, Radiation; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015412:Mastectomy, Segmental; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents