Radiation complications related to axillary irradiation for breast cancer

ABSTRACT

The records of 1428 patients with breast cancer between January 1985 and December 1991 were reviewed. All cases received radiotherapy including the axilla. Acute and chronic radiation complications related to axilla were scored. These complications were analyzed in relation to the surgical procedures done before radiotherapy, total dose of irradiation and the type of radiation beam used. It was found that moderate and severe erythema and moist desquamation [score 2 + 3] were significantly higher in patients treated with deep X-ray [DXR] [37% and 7%, respectively], compared to those treated with telecobalt therapy [26% and 3%, respectively]. There was no significant difference in acute reactions as related to type of surgery or to total radiation doses less than 40 Gy or more than 40 Gy. As regards, chronic radiation reactions, edema of upper limbs was significantly influenced by the different factors. Edema of upper limbs was significantly higher in patients who had radical mastectomy [39.7%], modified radical mastectomy [33.6%], simple mastectomy plus axillary sampling [23.4%] in patients who received more than 40 Gy [34.4%] and those treated with DXR [32.6%]