Helical Tomotherapy for patients with pectus excavatum treated for early‐stage breast cancer

A Case of Hypofractionated Radiation Therapy for Early-Stage Breast Cancer in a Patient With Fabry Disease

Fabry disease is a metabolic disorder caused by a deficiency in lysosomal enzymes and is inherited as an X-chromosomal disorder. Patients with Fabry disease have a low incidence of cancer, and reports of malignant tumors, especially in the thoracic region, are rare. In this case report, we describe our experience with radiation therapy following breast-conserving surgery in a patient with left breast cancer and Fabry disease, and we review the existing literature. The patient, a woman in her 40s, required postoperative irradiation for left breast cancer (pT1N0M0). There were several patients with Fabry disease in her family, and the diagnosis of Fabry disease was made five years ago. Cardiac function evaluation revealed no significant abnormalities, but a myocardial biopsy had suggested the presence of Fabry disease. Due to the relatively preserved distance between the heart and the chest wall, the patient received heart-shielded three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy at a dose of 53.2 Gy in 20 fractions, without the use of deep-inspiration breath-hold or intensity-modulated radiotherapy. After treatment was completed, only mild radiation dermatitis was observed. Six months have passed since treatment, and there have been no serious adverse events.

Do We Need to Delineate the Humeral Head in Breast Cancer Patients?

Simple Summary

Humeral heads can be unintentionally exposed during breast radiotherapy, particularly when regional lymph nodes are targeted. The aim of this study was to analyze late adverse events involving the humeral head occurring after adjuvant locoregional breast radiotherapy. We included 159 breast cancer patients locoregionally irradiated in an adjuvant setting with helical tomotherapy. After a median delay of 48 months, 10 patients (6.06% (3.20–10.92%) of breasts treated) presented clinical events such as localized bone pain, shoulder functional limitation and humeral head fracture. The average mean and maximum doses to humeral heads were 9.18 Gy and 24.41 Gy, respectively, and were not statistically associated with humeral head adverse events. We found that clinical adverse events involving the humeral head after adjuvant helical tomotherapy for breast cancer were rare, and the radiation exposure was low. No correlation was found between dosimetric parameters and late toxicity.

Abstract

Humeral heads can be unintentionally exposed during breast radiotherapy, particularly when regional lymph nodes are targeted. Moreover, rotational intensity-modulated radiation therapy techniques, such as helical tomotherapy (HT), increase the low-dose bath, the consequences of which are subject to debate. The aim of this study was to analyze late adverse events involving humeral heads occurring after adjuvant locoregional breast radiotherapy with HT. This single-center retrospective study included 159 breast cancer patients locoregionally irradiated, including the regional lymph nodes, in an adjuvant setting with HT at Institut Curie (Paris, France), between January 2010 and 2016. After a median delay of 48 months, six patients (3.8%) developed localized bone pain, three (1.9%) developed a shoulder functional limitation and one (0.6%) developed a traumatic humeral head fracture. The average mean and maximum doses to humeral heads were 9.18 Gy and 24.41 Gy, respectively, and were not statistically associated with humeral head adverse events. Adverse events were statistically more frequent after mastectomy than after breast-conserving surgery. Berg’s level 1 and 2/3 irradiation, and right-sided radiotherapy were associated with an increased maximum dose. In summary, clinical adverse events were rare, and radiation exposure to humeral heads was low. No correlation was found between dosimetric parameters and late toxicity.

Cardiotoxicity in breast cancer patients treated with radiation therapy: From evidences to controversies

Radiation therapy has a prime importance for breast cancer management. However, first-generation techniques delivered significant radiation dose to the heart, which substantially increased cardiac mortality. Breast radiation therapy has fortunately evolved, and state-of-the-art radiation therapy techniques currently efficiently spare the heart without altering local control or overall survival. However, at the present time, potential cardiotoxicity risk is still a matter of concern and controversies exist concerning how to precisely evaluate cardiac radiation exposure, how to predict radiation-induced cardiac adverse events and which dosimetric constraints are clinically relevant. Based on current literature, this paper aims to review the present understanding of cardiotoxicity associated with breast cancer irradiation and to discuss controversies and perspectives about cardiac sparing improvement.