Women who have received radiotherapy for Hodgkin's disease have an increased risk of developing breast cancer. Breast-conserving surgery followed by breast irradiation is generally considered to be contraindicated in such patients owing to the high cumulative radiation dose to the breast. Mastectomy is therefore recommended as the preferred treatment option in these women.
Methods
We report 3 patients affected by breast cancer who had previously been treated with mantle radiation for Hodgkin's disease and on whom breast-conserving surgery and full-dose intraoperative radiotherapy with electrons (ELIOT) were performed.
Results
A total dose of 17 Gy (prescribed at 100% isodose) in one case and 21 Gy (at the 90% isodose) in two cases was delivered directly to the mammary gland without acute complications and with good cosmetic results.
Conclusions
In women previously irradiated for Hodgkin's disease, ELIOT could avoid repeat irradiation of the whole breast, thereby permitting conservative surgical treatment.
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