These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: Dosimetric analysis of a simplified intensity modulation technique for prone breast radiotherapy.
    Author: Goodman KA, Hong L, Wagman R, Hunt MA, McCormick B.
    Journal: Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys; 2004 Sep 01; 60(1):95-102. PubMed ID: 15337544.
    Abstract:
    PURPOSE: Prone-position breast radiotherapy (RT) has been described as an alternative technique to improve dose homogeneity for women with large, pendulous breasts. We report the feasibility and dosimetric analysis of a simplified intensity-modulated RT (IMRT) technique, previously reported for women in the supine treatment position, to plan prone-position RT to the intact breast. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Twenty patients with clinical Stage TisN0-T1bN1 breast cancer undergoing breast-conserving therapy underwent whole breast RT using a prone position technique. The treatment plans were developed using both conventional tangents and a simplified intensity-modulated tangential beam technique based on optimization of the intensity distributions across the breast. The plans were compared with regard to the dose-volume parameters. RESULTS: Dose heterogeneity within the breast planning target volume was significantly greater for the conventional tangent plans. Of 20 patients, 16 (80%) received maximal doses of > or =110% using the conventional tangents vs. only 1 (5%) using the IMRT plan. The isodose level encompassing 5% of the planning target volume was reduced from an average of 110% with conventional tangents to 105% with IMRT. The maximal dose within the planning target volume was reduced from an average of 114% with conventional tangents to 107% with IMRT. The greatest improvement was seen in the patients with the most pendulous breasts. CONCLUSION: An IMRT planning approach is feasible for prone-position breast RT and improves dose homogeneity, particularly in women with larger, pendulous breasts. Additional follow-up is necessary to determine whether the improvements in dose homogeneity impact acute toxicity and cosmetic outcome in this cohort of women who have historically suffered from poor cosmesis after breast-conserving therapy.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]