RESUMO
The present analysis compares the esthetics assessment by the BCCT.core software in relation to patients' and physicians' ratings, based on the IMRT-MC2 trial. Within this trial, breast cancer patients received breast-conserving surgery (BCS) and adjuvant radiotherapy. At the baseline, 6 weeks, and 2 years after radiotherapy, photos of the breasts were assessed by the software and patients' and physicians' assessments were performed. Agreement rates of the assessments and their correlation with breast asymmetry indices were evaluated. The assessments of the software and the physicians were significantly correlated with asymmetry indices. Before and 6 weeks after radiotherapy, the patients' self-assessment was only correlated with the lower breast contour (LBC) and upward nipple retraction (UNR), while after 2 years, there was also a correlation with other indices. Only a slight agreement between the BCCT.core software and the physicians' or patients' assessment was seen, while a moderate and substantial agreement was detected between the physicians' and the patients' assessment after 6 weeks and 2 years, respectively. The BCCT.core software is a reliable tool to measure asymmetries, but may not sufficiently evaluate the esthetic outcome as perceived by patients. It may be more appropriate for a long-term follow-up, when symmetry appears to increase in importance.
RESUMO
Radiation therapy delivered with hypofractionation, which involves the delivery of a higher dose per fraction in fewer fractions (generally with a lower total nominal dose) over a shorter overall treatment time, is an established therapeutic option at least for a selected group of early breast cancer patients after breast-conserving surgery. Optimal delivery of the tumor bed boost dose in terms of timing, fractionation, and total dose whenever a hypofractionated schedule is employed has yet to be established. We herein present a review of the current evidence on the role of boost integration in whole breast radiotherapy.