Intraoperative Radiotherapy During a Second Breast-Conserving Procedure for Relapsed Breast Cancer After Previous External Beam Radiotherapy

Abstract

To the Editor: Guix et al. ( 1 Guix B. Lejarcegui J.A. Tello J.I. et al. Exeresis and brachytherapy as salvage treatment for local recurrence after conservative treatment for breast cancer: Results of a ten-year pilot study. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2010; 78: 804-810 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (53) Google Scholar ) recently reported on 36 patients with breast recurrences after previous breast-conserving therapy (BCT) treated by excision and brachytherapy (BT) alone. BT is described as a safe and effective treatment modality in these patients (local control rate of 89.4% at a median follow-up of 89 months). In addition, another BT report of a similar patient group showed satisfying results with a freedom from treatment failure rate of 77% after 5 years ( 2 Hannoun-Levi J.M. Houvenaeghel G. Ellis S. et al. Partial breast irradiation as second treatment for local breast cancer recurrence. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2004; 60: 1385-1392 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (91) Google Scholar ). In accordance with these reports, we agree that patients with localized recurrent ipsilateral breast cancer after BCT can be offered a second BCT approach ( 3 Kraus-Tiefenbacher U. Bauer L. Scheda A. et al. Intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) is an option for patients with localized breast recurrences after previous external-beam radiotherapy. BMC Cancer. 2007; 7: 178 Crossref PubMed Scopus (84) Google Scholar ). Compared with the 5-day BT course, we reported earlier on 15 patients treated with single-dose intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) during their second BCT ( 3 Kraus-Tiefenbacher U. Bauer L. Scheda A. et al. Intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) is an option for patients with localized breast recurrences after previous external-beam radiotherapy. BMC Cancer. 2007; 7: 178 Crossref PubMed Scopus (84) Google Scholar ). An IORT dose of 14.7–20 Gy was given using the Intrabeam System (Carl Zeiss Surgical, Oberkochen, Germany), with 50-kV X-rays. Exeresis and Brachytherapy as Salvage Treatment for Local Recurrence After Conservative Treatment for Breast Cancer: Results of a Ten-Year Pilot StudyInternational Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, PhysicsVol. 78Issue 3PreviewTo analyze the long-term results of a pilot study assessing excision and brachytherapy as salvage treatment for local recurrence after conservative treatment of breast cancer. Full-Text PDF