Association Between Maximal Skin Dose and Breast Brachytherapy Outcome: A Proposal for More Rigorous Dosimetric Constraints

Journal Article · Tue Nov 01 00:00:00 EDT 2011 · International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrobp.2010.12.023· OSTI ID:21590460

Heffernan, Jill; Vera, Robyn; Rosu, Mihaela; Ramakrishnan, V Ramesh; Arthur, Douglas W ^[1]

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1. Department of Radiation Oncology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Medical College of Virginia Campus, Richmond, VA (United States)

Purpose: Multiple investigations have used the skin distance as a surrogate for the skin dose and have shown that distances <6 mm have been associated with late toxicity after MammoSite brachytherapy. No publications have yet described the relationship between the actual maximal skin dose and the outcome. The present study analyzed the maximal skin dose delivered and the occurrence of late toxicity in a large cohort of patients with prolonged follow-up. Methods: A total of 96 patients treated with breast brachytherapy between 2000 and 2007 for whom complete planning and follow-up data were available were included in the present analysis. The median follow-up was 48 months (range, 24-111). Of the 96 patients, 40 were treated with multicatheter interstitial brachytherapy and 56 with MammoSite. A multivariate statistical analysis was performed to determine the relationship between several dosimetric parameters and patient outcome. Results: The treatment was well tolerated, with 98% of patients experiencing good to excellent cosmesis. Significant late toxicity was uncommon. The maximal dose delivered to the skin was significantly associated with the incidence of any degree of telangiectasia (p = .009) and moderate to severe fibrosis (p = .010). The incidence of late toxicity was significantly increased when the dose to the skin was >4.05 Gy/fraction. Conclusion: The initial skin dose recommendations have been based on safe use and the avoidance of significant toxicity. The results from the present study have suggested that patients might further benefit if more rigorous constraints were applied and if the skin dose were limited to 120% of the prescription dose.

• OSTI ID: 21590460
• Journal Information: International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics, Journal Name: International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 81; ISSN IOBPD3; ISSN 0360-3016
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
BODY
BRACHYTHERAPY
DOSES
FIBROSIS
GLANDS
IRRADIATION
MAMMARY GLANDS
MATHEMATICS
MEDICINE
MULTIVARIATE ANALYSIS
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ORGANS
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
RADIATION DOSES
RADIOLOGY
RADIOTHERAPY
SKIN
STATISTICS
THERAPY
TOXICITY