Frontiers in Oncology (Sep 2014)

FEASIBILITY OF IMAGE-GUIDED RADIOTHERAPY FOR CARDIAC SPARING IN PATIENTS WITH LEFT-SIDED BREAST CANCER

  • Claire eLEMANSKI,
  • Juliettte eThariat,
  • Fred eAmpil,
  • Satya eBose,
  • Jacqueline eVock,
  • Rick eDavis,
  • Alexander eChi,
  • Suresh eDutta,
  • William eWoods,
  • Anand eDesai,
  • Juan eGodinez,
  • ULF LENNART Karlsson,
  • Nam Phong Nguyen,
  • Vincent eVinh-Hung

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2014.00257
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 4

Abstract

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Patients with left-sided breast cancer are at risk of cardiac toxicity because of cardiac irradiation during radiotherapy with the conventional 3-dimensional conformal technique (3D-CRT). In addition, many patients may receive chemotherapy prior to radiation which may damage the myocardium and may increase the potential for late cardiac complications. New radiotherapy techniques such as intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) may decrease the risk of cardiac toxicity because of the steep dose gradient limiting the volume of the heart irradiated to a high dose. Image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) is a new technique of IMRT delivery with daily imaging which may further reduce excessive cardiac irradiation. Preliminary results of IGRT for cardiac sparing in patients with left-sided breast cancer are promising and need to be investigated in future prospective clinical studies.

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