title: Long-term side effects and cosmetic outcome  in a pool of breast cancer patients treated  with intraoperative radiotherapy with electrons as sole treatment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate late toxicity and cosmetic outcome after intraoperative radiotherapy using electrons (ELIOT) as sole treatment modality in early breast cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 119 patients selected randomly among 1200 cases was analyzed. Late toxicities were documented using the LENT-SOMA scoring system, cosmesis was evaluated with the Harvard scale, and a numeric rating scale was used to assess symptoms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After a median follow-up of 71 months, grade II fibrosis was observed in 38 patients (31.9%) and grade III fibrosis in 7 patients (5.9%). Postoperative complications (12.6%) did not correlate with late toxicity. Physicians and patients scored cosmesis as excellent or good in 84% and 77.3% of the cases, respectively. Patient satisfaction was higher than 90%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the study, ELIOT gives low and acceptable long-term toxicity. A longer follow-up and a larger number of patients are needed to confirm these promising results.
authors: Division of Radiation Oncology, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy.
authors: Maria Cristina
authors: MC
authors: Leonardi
authors: Giovanni Battista
authors: GB
authors: Ivaldi
authors: Luigi
authors: L
authors: Santoro
authors: Roberta
authors: R
authors: Lazzari
authors: Annamaria
authors: A
authors: Ferrari
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Morra
authors: Pietro
authors: P
authors: Caldarella
authors: Loredana
authors: L
authors: Burgoa
authors: Fabio Domenico
authors: FD
authors: Bassi
authors: Claudia
authors: C
authors: Sangalli
authors: Nicole
authors: N
authors: Rotmensz
authors: Alberto
authors: A
authors: Luini
authors: Umberto
authors: U
authors: Veronesi
authors: Roberto
authors: R
authors: Orecchia
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001504:Beauty; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D018275:Carcinoma, Lobular / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D004583:Electrons / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000209:etiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007432:Intraoperative Period; D007558:Italy; D015412:Mastectomy, Segmental; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor