This study is the first randomized trial that addresses the use of radiation therapy following lumpectomy in a favorable cohort of elderly women.
Unlike standard conventional breast radiotherapy, this approach treats only 2 cm of tissue beyond the borders of the lumpectomy cavity instead of the entire breast.
Large-scale clinical trials have shown that breast conservation therapy, involving lumpectomy and radiation therapy, results in survival rates equivalent to those seen with mastectomy.
Survival rates did not differ between patients treated by radiation, lumpectomy or mastectomy.
Seventy-six of them were followed for 83 months following treatment by lumpectomy only (n 21) lumpectomy and radiotherapy (n 27), or mastectomy (n 28).
These preferences may be linked to differences in geographic access to radiation facilities across regions, because of the need for postoperative radiation following lumpectomy.
A comparison of ink-directed and traditional whole-cavity re-excision for breast lumpectomy specimens with positive margins.
Following insertion of the balloon into the lumpectomy cavity, the balloon is inflated via one of the lumens with sterile water and contrast material.
