Breast size impact on adjuvant radiotherapy adverse effects and dose parameters in treatment planning

Abstract

Breast radiotherapy is an established adjuvant treatment after breast conserving surgery. One of the important individual factors affecting the final cosmetic outcome after radiation is breast size. The purpose of this review is to summarise the clinical toxicity profile of adjuvant radiotherapy in women with breasts of various sizes, and to evaluate the treatment planning studies comparing target coverage and dose to thoracic organs at risk in relation to breast size.

Keywords

• breast cancer
• breast size
• radiation side effects
• organs at risk
• treatment planning