title: Persistent pain after targeted intraoperative radiotherapy (TARGIT) or external breast radiotherapy for breast cancer: a randomized trial.
abstract: Persistent pain after breast cancer treatment (PPBCT) affects between 25 and 60% of patients depending on surgical and adjuvant treatment. External breast radiotherapy (EBRT) has been shown to be a riskfactor for PPBCT, raising the question whether intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT), with its smaller radiation field may reduce the development of PPBCT. Using data from the TARGIT-A trial, the aim of this study was to compare these two treatments with regard to development of PPBCT. A total of 281 patients enrolled in the TARGIT-A trial from the Copenhagen University Hospitals was screened for participation, and a total of 244 patients were included and received a detailed questionnaire. The response rate was 98%, leaving 238 patients for the final analysis. Pain prevalence were 33.9% in the EBRT group and 24.6% in the IORT group (p = 0.11). Treatment with IORT may not alter the risk of PPBCT.
authors.affiliation: Section for Surgical Pathophysiology, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. kenneth.geving.andersen@rh.regionh.dk
authors.forename: Kenneth Geving
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: Rune
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gärtner
authors.forename: Niels
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kroman
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Flyger
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kehlet
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires