Breast Cancer
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Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation
The main effect of radiation therapy following breast conserving surgery is the reduction of breast cancer recurrence. Whole breast Irradiation (WBI) delivers daily radiation to the entire breast through a few angles over the course of 6-7 weeks. A shorter course (1 week) of radiation therapy restricted to the region around the tumor bed, called accelerated partial breast irradiation APBI has been introduced. For select patients, the results are very encouraging and the techniques have been shown to be safe and tolerable with outcomes similar to WBI.
If radiation is directed only to the tissue surrounding the excision cavity, then the entire course of radiation therapy can be shortened to one week, which is more convenient for the patient. Furthermore, APBI decreases the doses administered to normal tissues, such as the remainder of the breast, underlying muscle, ribs, lung, and heart thus potentially reducing toxicities. Unlike most APBI techniques, CyberKnife® does not require an in-dwelling brachytherapy catheter.
With this IRB-approved protocol, CyberKnife® is expected to result in a more conformal, convenient treatment schedule and with less discomfort than other APBI techniques that require a brachytherapy catheter.
Conventional radiation treats entire breast
(and underlying lung and chest wall)
through a few angles
Gina J. Mansy, M.D. and Huan B. Giap, M.D. – Radiation Oncologists