Sorting Out the Complications of Brachytherapy for Breast Cancer

An observational study in older women showed significantly higher rates of skin and wound complications with brachytherapy than with whole-breast irradiation.

Accelerated partial breast irradiation with brachytherapy following lumpectomy versus traditional whole-breast irradiation (WBI) has become a standard treatment for breast cancer despite minimal comparative data. Use of brachytherapy can shorten treatment duration from 6 weeks to 5 days, theoretically with less risk for toxicity to the heart and lungs because radiation exposure is limited to the lumpectomy site. However, some have postulated that risk for acute skin and wound complications is higher with this approach. Investigators conducted an observational study of Medicare claims data from 29,648 patients (age range, 66–94) with invasive breast cancer who underwent breast-conserving surgery from January 2008 through June 2009 followed b…

Reviewing Author

Henry Mark Kuerer, MD, PhD, FACS

Disclosures

Speaker's BureauPhysicians’ Education Resource, LLC

RoyaltiesMcGraw-Hill Professional; UpToDate, Inc.

Editorial BoardsAnnals of Surgical Oncology

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Breast Surgeons (Chair, Publications Committee)

Henry Mark Kuerer, MD, PhD, FACS

Disclosures

Speaker's BureauPhysicians’ Education Resource, LLC

RoyaltiesMcGraw-Hill Professional; UpToDate, Inc.

Editorial BoardsAnnals of Surgical Oncology

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Breast Surgeons (Chair, Publications Committee)

Sorting Out the Complications of Brachytherapy for Breast Cancer

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Reviewing Author