title: The potential role of hypofractionated accelerated radiotherapy to cosmesis for stage I-II breast carcinoma: a prospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the acute and late effects as well as the cosmetic results of an accelerated hypofractionated radiotherapeutic schedule in breast cancer irradiation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-four patients with stage I-II invasive breast cancer receiving postoperative radiotherapy (RT) after lumpectomy and axillary node dissection were studied. All patients received RT with 6 MV linear accelerator with a total tumor dose of 53 Gy (Equivalent dose-EQD2- 60 Gy), 2.65 Gy per fraction, in 20 fractions. Acute and late effects as well as cosmetic results were assessed using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer and Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (EORTC-RTOG) Cosmetic Rating System.
  
  
  RESULTS
  By the end of RT 66.7% of the patients developed no toxicity, while 24.1% showed grade 1 and 9.3% grade 2 acute skin toxicity. After 6 months 90.7% of women showed grade 0 late toxicity while 100% of women recovered completely 2 years after RT. There was no local or distant recurrence during 5-year follow up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The accelerated hypofractionated schedule appears to be an acceptable alternative to the traditional longer RT schedules, without late toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiotherapy, Aretaieion University Hospital, Medical School of Athens, Athens, Greece. annazygo1@yahoo.gr
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Zygogianni
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kouloulias
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Armpilia
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Balafouta
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Antypas
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Kouvaris
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D003358:Cosmetics; D019583:Dose Fractionation, Radiation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D012867:Skin / Q000528:radiation effects*
chemical_list: D003358:Cosmetics