[National breast cancer brachytherapy survey in France: Results and perspectives in 2009].
OBJECTIVE
To present the national survey patterns in France for breast cancer brachytherapy in 2009.


METHODS
A written questionnaire was sent to the academic and general hospitals and the anticancer centres. The different items were type of institution; breast cancer clinical trial participation; number of breast brachytherapy per year; its indications; material and dose rate used.


RESULTS
Among the 76 sent questionnaires, 35 (46 %) answers were available: 9 % of academic hospitals and 50 % of cancer centres performed breast brachytherapy. The number of breast brachytherapy per year ranged between 300 and 350. The indications were boost (100 %), partial breast irradiation (20 %) and second conservative treatment for local recurrence (53 %). The implanted material consisted in needles (27 %) and plastic tubes (73 %). The dose rate was low (50 %), pulsed (25 %) and high (25 %).


CONCLUSIONS
Breast brachytherapy appears as a validated technique in case of boost but remains under investigation for partial breast irradiation and second conservative treatments. Good clinical practice rules as well as technical and dosimetric guidelines are needed. A cost-effective analysis of breast brachytherapy is warranted.
Hannoun-Lévi
J-M
JM
Département de radiothérapie, centre Antoine-Lacassagne, Nice, France. Jean-michel.hannoun-levi@nice.fnclcc.fr <Jean-michel.hannoun-levi@nice.fnclcc.fr>
Hennequin
C
C
Pommier
P
P
Izar
F
F
Thomas
L
L
Le Scodan
R
R
Lesaunier
F
F
Nguyen
T
T
Heymann
S
S
Truc
G
G
Peiffert
D
D
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D002173:Cancer Care Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006306:Health Surveys; D006769:Hospitals, General / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome