title: Review of deep inspiration breath-hold techniques for the treatment of breast cancer.
abstract: Radiation treatment to the left breast is associated with increased cardiac morbidity and mortality. The deep inspiration breath-hold technique (DIBH) can decrease radiation dose delivered to the heart and this may facilitate the treatment of the internal mammary chain nodes. The aim of this review is to critically analyse the literature available in relation to breath-hold methods, implementation, utilisation, patient compliance, planning methods and treatment verification of the DIBH technique. Despite variation in the literature regarding the DIBH delivery method, patient coaching, visual feedback mechanisms and treatment verification, all methods of DIBH delivery reduce radiation dose to the heart. Further research is required to determine optimum protocols for patient training and treatment verification to ensure the technique is delivered successfully.
authors.affiliation: Crown Princess Mary Cancer Centre, Westmead Hospital Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Drew
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Latty
authors.affiliation: Crown Princess Mary Cancer Centre, Westmead Hospital Sydney, New South Wales, Australia ; Westmead Breast Cancer Institute Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Kirsty E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Stuart
authors.affiliation: Crown Princess Mary Cancer Centre, Westmead Hospital Sydney, New South Wales, Australia ; Westmead Breast Cancer Institute Sydney, New South Wales, Australia ; Nepean Cancer Care Centre Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Crown Princess Mary Cancer Centre, Westmead Hospital Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Verity
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ahern
keywords: Breast neoplasms; breath holding; heart; radiation therapy