title: Prone breast radiotherapy in a patient with early stage breast cancer and a large pendulous breast.
abstract: In women with large and pendulous breasts postoperative radiotherapy in the supine position could represent a technical challenge because of the resulting dose inhomogeneity and the large amount of lung and heart receiving a high percentage of the prescribed dose. Breast-conserving surgery is therefore relatively contraindicated in these patients. Alternative positions for radiation therapy treatment have been proposed, and prone breast irradiation in particular has been recognized as a useful alternative to conventional treatment in the supine position. We report the case of a large-breasted patient treated in prone position in our radiation therapy division.
authors.affiliation: Radiation Oncology Department, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy. annamaria.ferrari@ieo.it
authors.forename: Annamaria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ivaldi
authors.forename: Maria Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Leonardi
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rondi
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Orecchia
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015412:Mastectomy, Segmental; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D016684:Prone Position; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D011881:Radiotherapy, Computer-Assisted / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D012867:Skin / Q000528:radiation effects