COMPARISON OF HYPOFRACTIONATED RADIOTHERAPY WITH CONVENTIONAL FRACTIONATED RADIOPTHERAPY IN POST MASTECTOMY BREAST CARCINOMA PATIENTS: TOXICITY, EFFICACY AND FEASIBILITY STUDY

Abstract

Introduction :- Adjuvant radiotherapy plays crucial role in management of carcinoma breast patients. Altered fractionation schedules like hypofractionated radiotherapy (40 Gy/15 fractions/ 3 weeks) is time and resources saving as compared to conventional fractionation radiotherapy (50 Gy/ 25 fractions/ 5 weeks) which is time consuming. The aim of our study was to assess and compare toxicity, efcacy and feasibility of hypofractionated radiotherapy when compared with conventional fractionation radiotherapy in carcinoma breast patients. The data Materials and Methods:- of total 105 breast carcinoma patients was collected and evaluated in this retrospective study. This data includes sociodemographic features, tumor characteristics, treatment details and toxicity proles of patients. Acute and chronic radiation toxicities were assessed as per RTOG common toxicity criteria for adverse events. Efcacy and toxicity data was collected at the time of completion of radiotherapy and every follow up visit from our hospital records and this data was analyzed. In Results :- our study, age of patients ranges from 25-83 yrs, with median age of 49.5 yrs. 42 (40 %) patients were from postmenopausal group with Stage II as predominant stage with 47 (44.76 %) patients. 51 (48.57 %) patients received conventional fractionation radiotherapy (CRT) and 54 (51.42 %) patients received hypo fractionated radiotherapy (HRT). Acute Skin Toxicity was observed in 49/51 (96.07%) patients and 45/54 (83.33%) patients in CRT and HRT group respectively. Chronic skin toxicity was observed in 18/51 (35.29%) and 16/54 (29.62 %) patients in CRT and HRT group respectively. Locoregional failure was observed in 3/51(5.88 %) and 2/54 (3.70%) patients in CRT and HRT group respectively. Toxicity and efcacy comparison in CRT and HRT group patients was statistically non signicant (p > 0.05) Hypofractionated radiotherapy in Conclusion:- adjuvant treatment of carcinoma breast patients is safe, effective, feasible, compliant and time saving treatment option when compared with conventional fractionated radiotherapy.