Nuclear Medicine & Radiation Therapy

Can Helical Tomotherapy be used as a Safe Treatment Alternative for Breast Cancer Patients?

Abstract

Julian Jacob, Francois Campana, Ciprian Chira, Dominique Peurien, Caroline Daveau, Nathalie Fournier-Bidoz, Alain Fourquet and Youlia M Kirova

Radiation therapy (RT) has demonstrated strong clinical benefits for patients who present a high relapse risk after breast conserving surgery or radical mastectomy. Unfortunately, the benefits of RT can be offset by its possible impacts on cardiac toxicity and increased risk of death from cardiac events. Additionally, recent radiological and radiotherapy techniques have allowed clinicians to better define target volumes and customize irradiation so that doses to the heart and left coronary artery can be accurately quantified. Alternative treatment positions, such as the lateral and prone positions are also being used. These positions can adapt to the patient’s anatomy and thus better protect the heart and lungs. This paper will report the outcomes for a patient who received breast cancer treatment after her treatment position and technique were optimized for ideal target volume coverage and minimum irradiation to organs at risk (OAR), particularly to the heart and lungs.