A case of metachronous bilateral breast cancer with bilateral radiation pneumonitis after breast-conserving therapy.

We report a patient with metachronous bilateral breast cancer who has twice developed radiation pneumonitis after breast-conserving therapy for each breast. The patient was a 48-year-old woman, who presented with Stage I right breast cancer. After wide excision of the right breast tumor and dissection of level I axillary lymph nodes, systemic therapy with oral 5-FU and tamoxifen was started. Subsequently, tangential irradiation with a total dose of 50 Gy in 25 fractions was given. Seven months after irradiation, she developed respiratory symptoms and radiation pneumonitis was diagnosed. The symptoms resolved with oral prednisolone. Thirty months after the right breast cancer treatment, Stage I left breast cancer was diagnosed. After wide excision of the left breast tumor and partial removal of the level I axillary lymph nodes, the same oral systemic chemo-hormonal therapy was initiated. Thereafter, tangential irradiation with a total dose of 50 Gy in 25 fractions was given. Four months after irradiation, she developed respiratory symptoms. A chest X-ray showed an area of increased density in the left lung consistent with radiation pneumonitis. The symptoms were mild and they improved spontaneously without medication. Although there is insufficient evidence to justify or withhold whole breast radiation therapy from patients with a history of contralateral breast cancer and radiation pneumonitis, it is essential to discuss the adequacy of whole breast irradiation and the possibility of alternative approaches, such as breast-conserving surgery without irradiation or partial breast irradiation for this rare condition.

Feasibility of breast-conserving therapy for macroscopically multiple ipsilateral breast cancer.

PURPOSE: Macroscopically multiple ipsilateral breast cancer (MMIBC) is generally considered a contraindication for breast-conserving therapy (BCT). The result of BCT for MMIBC is reported and the feasibility discussed. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Between July 1993 and February 1999, 34 patients with MMIBC underwent BCT at our clinic. The local control, disease-free survival, and cosmetic results in these patients were compared with those of patients with single disease. RESULTS: After wide excision, 21 (62%) of 34 patients with MMIBC had a close surgical margin and the rate was significantly greater than that of patients with a single lesion. However, the size of the boost irradiation field was not significantly increased. At a median follow-up of 98 months, no statistically significant difference was noted in local control, disease-free survival, or cosmetic result compared with patients with a single lesion. CONCLUSION: Although patients with MMIBC frequently had close surgical margins after BCT, it can be a treatment option for these patients as long as the close surgical margin is accurately detected and treated with an appropriate radiation technique.

Late skin and subcutaneous soft tissue changes after 10-gy boost for breast conserving therapy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the influence of boost irradiation for breast conserving therapy on skin and subcutaneous tissue. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 1989 and 1995, 468 patients were treated with breast conserving surgery (quadrantectomy or wide excision with axillary dissection) followed by 50 Gy whole breast irradiation. Among them, fifty-eight patients with positive or close margins were treated with 10 Gy external beam boost irradiation. Skin and subcutaneous soft tissue changes during 5-years of follow-up were examined by inspection and palpation and evaluated using the BCT follow-up form based on EORTC late effect toxicity scoring. RESULT: Four percent (20/468) of the patients showed grade 2 late changes in skin and soft tissue. Four of them had skin telangiectasis, which was limited to within the boost field. Boost irradiation had no definite influence on other late changes. Patients' age, extent of surgery, and pT size had no significant relation to the late changes. The cosmetic score 5 years after BCT was not significantly different between the patients with and without boost irradiation. CONCLUSION: Although 10 Gy boost irradiation after 50 Gy whole breast irradiation increased skin telangiectasis, the late skin and soft tissue changes caused by the boost irradiation were generally mild and there was no substantial deterioration of cosmetic outcome.

Radiation therapy for brain metastases from breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is one of the most common malignancies that metastasize to the brain. Radiation therapy plays a central role in the management of brain metastases. METHODS: The medical records of 36 patients with brain metastases from breast cancer who underwent whole-brain radiation therapy (WBRT) at Kyoto University Hospital between 1993 and 2001 were reviewed. The treatment outcomes were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: The median age at the time of diagnosis of brain metastases was 52 years. Only 4 patients (11%) had a single metastasis, while the others had multiple metastases. Uncontrolled extracranial metastases were present in 26 patients at the time of diagnosis of brain metastases. All patients received WBRT at a median dose of 31 Gy. Eight patients received conventional external-beam boost irradiation, and 2 received boost stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). The overall median survival time was 7.9 months. Uncontrolled extracranial metastases except for bone metastases and old age were significantly associated with a poor survival rate. Twenty-six patients (82%) showed initial response, but 15 developed CNS failure, including 9 patients whose tumor recurred at the original site, 4 patients who developed tumors elsewhere in the brain and 3 patients who exhibited meningeal spread. The median duration of intracranial failure was 5.0 months. Whole-brain dose, and total tumor dose did not affect intracranial control. CONCLUSIONS: Radiation therapy yielded a high initial response, but the duration of effect was limited with external beam irradiation alone. New treatment strategies such as adding SRS need to be studied further.

Local hyperthermia combined with external irradiation for regional recurrent breast carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic effects of hyperthermia in combination with radiotherapy for locoregional recurrence of breast cancer, and to assess the factors related to subsequent local tumor control. METHODS: Between March 1981 and February 2001, 85 lesions in 73 patients were treated with local hyperthermia combined with external irradiation. Of 75 evaluable lesions, 41 were previously irradiated. Mean radiation dose to the previously unirradiated area was 59.5 +/- 6.8 Gy (range, 40-70 Gy), while a total dose of 43.0 +/- 12.4 Gy (range, 12-74.4 Gy) was administered to previously irradiated tumors. Hyperthermia was administered once or twice per week. The average number of hyperthermia sessions was 4.5 (2-9). RESULTS: Complete responses (CRs) were achieved in 56% (23/41) of previously irradiated and 47% (16/34) of unirradiated tumors. There was no significant difference in the CR rate between the two groups. Compared with the response of bulky/nodular tumors, diffuse/multiple small nodular tumors showed a higher CR rate at 4 weeks after treatment. However, at 6 months after treatment, they showed a significantly lower local control rate. CONCLUSIONS: The present findings suggested a significant benefit of local hyperthermia combined with radiotherapy in the treatment of locally recurrent breast cancer, especially for previously irradiated recurrence, by reducing the total irradiation dose. Diffuse/multiple small nodular tumors respond earlier than bulky/large nodular tumors; however, they tend to recur within the treatment field. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic effects of hyperthermia in combination with radiotherapy for locoregional recurrence of breast cancer, and to assess the factors related to subsequent local tumor control.