Intended 3D conformal irradiation of internal mammary lymph node is better than incidental irradiation in breast cancer patients.

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Clinical Oncology and Nuclear Medicine Department, Faculty of medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt

2 Clinical Oncology and nuclear medicine department, faculty of medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt

Abstract

Background: Internal mammary lymph node irradiation is a matter of debate.
Aim of work: was to make a dosimetric comparison between two different approaches for internal mammary lymph node volume irradiation.
Methods: prospective study was conducted in the Zagazig University Clinical Oncology and Nuclear Medicine Department. 38 patients with breast cancer presented in the period between March 2017 to March 2019. After finishing conformal three dimensional radiotherapy planning for breast cancer, we delineated internal mammary lymph nodes volume. Incidental internal mammary irradiation plan was the conventional tangential fields that cover chest wall or whole breast volume. Intended internal mammary irradiation plan was wide tangential fields that cover internal mammary lymph nodes volume.
Results: Average of mean dose to internal mammary lymph nodes volume was significantly increased from 4581 cGy in incidental plan to 5213.6 cGy in intended plan (p

Keywords