Prospective Comparison of Toxicity and Cosmetic Outcome After Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation with Conformal External Beam Radiotherapy or Single-Entry Multilumen Intracavitary Brachytherapy

ConclusionsBrachytherapy APBI is associated with higher rates of grade 1 fibrosis and seroma than 3D-CRT but lower rates of grade 1 edema and grade 2-3 pain than 3D-CRT. Rates of radiation oncologist-reported “fair” or “poor” cosmetic outcome are higher with brachytherapy. We identified dosimetric parameters that predict reduced risk of adverse cosmetic outcome after brachytherapy-based APBI. Ipsilateral breast recurrence was equivalent for brachytherapy and 3D-CRT.
Source: Practical Radiation Oncology - Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research