Intra-operative radiotherapy in breast-conserving surgery of early breast cancer patients / 中华普通外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate intra-operative radiotherapy after breast conservative surgery in early breast cancer patients in terms of postoperative complications,cosmetic outcome and recurrence events.Methods From June 2007 to Dec 2010,115 early breast cancer patients received breast conserving surgery.Fifty-nine patients (study group) received intra-operative radiotherapy,compared with 56 patients (control group) receiving routine postoperative radiotherapy.Postoperative complications were evaluated 1 month after surgery; cosmetic outcome was evaluated 1 year postoperatively; recurrence and death events were followed up.Results The average wound healing time was 13 -22 days in study group and 9 - 14days in control group.In the study group,2 patients developed fat deliquescence,16 patients showed wound edema while no such side effects were found in control group.No infection or hematoma were found in either group.Overall cosmetic outcome was rated 1 year post operation.In the study group (41 cases),36 patients were graded as excellent or good,5 patients were as fair or poor.Meanwhile in the control group (37 cases),wounds in 25 patients were graded as excellent or good,that in 12 patients were as fair or poor (P =0.031).After a follow-up from 3 to 42 months(median24 months),two patients (3.39％) in study group developed local cancer relapses,one of them( 1.7％ ) died.In control group,one patient ( 1.8％ )developed local relapse,and no one died.Conclusions Intra-operative radiotherapy is safe and reliable with good cosmetic outcome.