Open AccessRecent advances in breast cancer radiotherapy: Evolution or revolution, or how to decrease cardiac toxicity?
Author(s) -
Youlia Kirova
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
world journal of radiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 1949-8470
DOI - 10.4329/wjr.v2.i3.103
Subject(s) - medicine , radiation therapy , cardiac toxicity , breast cancer , toxicity , cancer , lung cancer , left breast , oncology , medical physics , intensive care medicine
Radiation therapy has a major role in the management of breast cancers. However, there is no consensus on how to irradiate and on volume definitions, and there are strong differences in strategies according to different centers and physicians. New treatment protocols and techniques have been used with the principal purpose of decreasing lung and heart toxicity and adapting radiation treatment to patients' anatomy. There is evidence that indicates internal mammary chain radiotherapy should be used carefully and that high quality techniques should be used for decreasing the dose delivered to the heart. This review of the literature presents the state of the art on breast cancer radiotherapy, with special focus on the indications, techniques, and potential toxicity.