Location of arm draining lymph node in relation to breast cancer radiotherapy field and target volume.

CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates that the vast majority of ARM nodes (72%) are outside the tangential whole breast radiotherapy fields. In our study, all the ARM nodes were within the axillary radiotherapy fields covering level 1-4 axillary volumes according to the ESTRO contouring guideline, and complete shielding of the humeral head according to the EORTC consensus did not lead to sparing of the ARM nodes. A prospective study is needed to examine the oncological safety of ARM node-sparing axillary radiotherapy and its potential to reduce the risk of arm lymphoedema.
PMID: 30446320 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Source: Radiotherapy and Oncology : journal of the European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology - November 13, 2018 Category: Radiology Authors: Wang W, Ward R, Jia D, Ashworth S, Estoesta E, Moodie T, Ahern V, Stuart K, Ngui N, French J, Elder E, Farlow D Tags: Radiother Oncol Source Type: research