Impact of excluding internal mammary node coverage on musculoskeletal dosimetry in breast radiotherapy.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Breast cancer radiotherapy (RT) can lead to shoulder complications including weakness, restricted motion, and discomfort, affecting up to 40% of patients. The necessity to include the internal mammary nodes (IMNs) during breast and nodal irradiation for every patient remains under discussion, particularly for early-stage breast cancers. The dosimetric effect on nearby musculoskeletal (MSK) structures when targeting the IMNs remains to be completely understood; hence the focus of this current study.

Methods

This retrospective study included breast cancer patients who underwent lumpectomy and nodal sampling followed by adjuvant hypofractionated whole breast and regional nodal RT (4005 cGy in 15 fractions) who were treated between January 1, 2022, and November 30, 2023

SUBMITTER: Ciocon SL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12686938 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature