Radiation Therapy to the Plexus Brachialis in Breast Cancer Patients: Analysis of Paresthesia in Relation to Dose and Volume.

PURPOSE: To identify volume and dose predictors of paresthesia after irradiation of the brachial plexus among women treated for breast cancer. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The women had breast surgery with axillary dissection, followed by radiation therapy with (n=192) or without irradiation (n=509) of the supraclavicular lymph nodes (SCLNs). The breast area was treated to 50 Gy in 2.0-Gy fractions, and 192 of the women also had 46 to 50 Gy to the SCLNs. We delineated the brachial plexus on 3-dimensional dose-planning computerized tomography. Three to eight years after radiation therapy the women answered a questionnaire. Irradiated volumes and doses were calculated and related to the occurrence of paresthesia in the hand. RESULTS: After treatment with axillary dissection with radiation therapy to the SCLNs 20% of the women reported paresthesia, compared with 13% after axillary dissection without radiation therapy, resulting in a relative risk (RR) of 1.47 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02-2.11). Paresthesia was reported by 25% after radiation therapy to the SCLNs with a V40 Gy ≥ 13.5 cm(3), compared with 13% without radiation therapy, RR 1.83 (95% CI 1.13-2.95). Women having a maximum dose to the brachial plexus of ≥55.0 Gy had a 25% occurrence of paresthesia, with RR 1.86 (95% CI 0.68-5.07, not significant). CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that there is a correlation between larger irradiated volumes of the brachial plexus and an increased risk of reported paresthesia among women treated for breast cancer.

Long-term symptoms after radiotherapy of supraclavicular lymph nodes in breast cancer patients.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Irradiation of the supraclavicular lymph nodes has historically increased the risk of brachial plexopathy. We report long-term symptoms after modern radiotherapy (based on 3D dose planning) in breast cancer patients with or without irradiation of the supraclavicular lymph nodes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We collected information from 814 women consecutively treated with adjuvant radiotherapy for breast cancer. The women had breast surgery with axillary dissection (AD) or sentinel node biopsy (SNB). The breast area was treated to 50 Gy in 2.0 Gy fractions. Women with >three lymph node metastases had regional radiotherapy (RRT) to the supraclavicular lymph nodes. Three to eight years after radiotherapy, they received a questionnaire asking about paraesthesia, oedema, pain, and strength in the upper limb. RESULTS: Paraesthesia was reported by 38/192 (20%) after AD with RRT compared to 68/505 (13%) after AD without RRT (relative risk [RR] 1.47; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02-2.11) and by 9/112 (8%) after SNB without RRT (RR 2.46; 95% CI 1.24-4.90). Corresponding risks adjusted for oedema (RR 1.28; 95% CI 0.93-1.76) and (RR 1.75; 95% CI 0.90-3.39). In women ≤ 49years with AD and RRT, 27% reported paraesthesia. No significant pain or decreased strength was reported after RRT. CONCLUSION: Radiotherapy to the supraclavicular lymph nodes after axillary dissection increases the occurrence of paraesthesia, mainly among younger women. When adjusted for oedema the contribution from radiotherapy is no longer formally statistically significant indicating that there is also an indirect effect mediated by the oedema.

Risk factors of developing long-lasting breast pain after breast cancer radiotherapy.

PURPOSE: Postoperative radiotherapy decreases breast cancer mortality. However, studies have revealed a long-lasting breast pain among some women after radiotherapy. The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors that contribute to breast pain after breast cancer radiotherapy. METHODS AND MATERIALS: We identified 1,027 recurrence-free women in two cohorts of Swedish women treated for breast cancer. The women had breast-conserving surgery and postoperative radiotherapy, the breast was treated to 48 Gy in 2.4-Gy fractions or to 50 Gy in 2.0-Gy fractions. Young women received a boost of up to 16 Gy. Women with more than three lymph node metastases had locoregional radiotherapy. Systemic treatments were given according to health-care guidelines. Three to 17 years after radiotherapy, we collected data using a study-specific questionnaire. We investigated the relation between breast pain and potential risk modifiers: age at treatment, time since treatment, chemotherapy, photon energy, fractionation size, boost, loco-regional radiotherapy, axillary surgery, overweight, and smoking. RESULTS: Eight hundred seventy-seven women (85%) returned the questionnaires. Among women up to 39 years of age at treatment, 23.1% had breast pain, compared with 8.7% among women older than 60 years (RR 2.66; 95% CI 1.33-5.36). Higher age at treatment (RR 0.96; 95% CI 0.94-0.98, annual decrease) and longer time since treatment (RR 0.93; 95% CI 0.88-0.98, annual decrease) were related to a lower occurrence of breast pain. Chemotherapy increased the occurrence of breast pain (RR 1.72; 95% CI 1.19-2.47). In the multivariable model only age and time since treatment were statistically significantly related to the occurrence of breast pain. We found no statistically significant relation between breast pain and the other potential risk modifiers. CONCLUSIONS: Younger women having undergone breast-conserving surgery with postoperative radiotherapy report a higher occurrence of long-lasting breast pain compared to older women. Time since treatment may decrease the occurrence of pain.

Symptoms 10-17 years after breast cancer radiotherapy data from the randomised SWEBCG91-RT trial.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative radiotherapy decreases the risk for local recurrence and improves overall survival in women with breast cancer. We have limited information on radiotherapy-induced symptoms 10-17 years after therapy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between 1991 and 1997, women with lymph node-negative breast cancer were randomised in a Swedish multi-institutional trial to breast conserving surgery with or without postoperative radiotherapy. In 2007, 10-17 years after randomisation, the group included 422 recurrence-free women. We collected data with a study-specific questionnaire on eight pre-selected symptom groups. RESULTS: For six symptom groups (oedema in breast or arm, erysipelas, heart symptoms, lung symptoms, rib fractures, and decreased shoulder mobility) we found similar occurrence in both groups. Excess occurrence after radiotherapy was observed for pain in the breast or in the skin, reported to occur "occasionally" by 38.1% of survivors having undergone radiotherapy and surgery versus 24.0% of those with surgery alone (absolute difference 14.1%; p=0.004) and at least once a week by 10.3% of the radiotherapy group versus 1.7% (absolute difference 8.6%; p=0.001). Daily life and analgesic use did not differ between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Ten to 17 years after postoperative radiotherapy 1 in 12 women had weekly pain that could be attributed to radiotherapy. The symptoms did not significantly affect daily life and thus the reduced risk for local recurrence seems to outweigh the risk for long-term symptoms for most women.