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The Role of Adjuvant Radiation Therapy in BC

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The Outpatient Breast Clinic

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Abstract

• Postoperative RT is strongly recommended after breast-conserving surgery (BCS). Boost irradiation gives a further risk reduction and is usually indicated for most of the patients regardless of risk factors. • Shorter fractionation schemes have been validated in large prospective studies. Currently, the ideal candidates are considered being at least 50 years old with unicentric, unifocal, node-negative, small non-lobular BC, without extensive intraductal component or lymphovascular invasion • Postmastectomy RT is recommended for patients at a high risk of local recurrence, including those with four or more positive axillary lymph nodes or involved resection margins. • Postmastectomy RT should be also considered for patients at an intermediate risk of local recurrence, including those with one to three lymph nodes involved, lymphovascular invasion, grade 3 and ER-negative tumours.

Future directions. Given its greater convenience and perceived better associated quality of life, accelerated partial-breast radiation (APBI) is becoming an increasingly popular alternative to conventional whole-breast irradiation (WBI) among women with early-stage breast cancer. Published data on APBI are still limited, while prospectively collected phase II trials have shown high rates of local control in appropriately selected patients.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Breast Surgery, Policlinic of Abano Terme, Padova, Italy

    Alfonso M. Pluchinotta

  2. Division of Radiotherapy, European Institute of Oncology (IEO), Milano, Italy

    Maria Cristina Leonardi

  3. Division of Radiotherapy, Istituto Oncologico Veneto (IOV), Padova, Italy

    Ornella Lora

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  1. Alfonso M. Pluchinotta
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  2. Maria Cristina Leonardi
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  3. Ornella Lora
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Correspondence to Alfonso M. Pluchinotta .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Breast Surgery Department Consultant Surgeon, Polyclinic Abano Terme, Padova, Italy

    Alfonso M. Pluchinotta

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Pluchinotta, A.M., Leonardi, M.C., Lora, O. (2015). The Role of Adjuvant Radiation Therapy in BC. In: Pluchinotta, A. (eds) The Outpatient Breast Clinic. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-15907-2_17

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-15907-2_17

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-15906-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-15907-2

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