Objective: The aim of this article was to describe the radio-therapeutic treatment options in previously irradiated patients suffering from breast cancer local recurrences and to review the literature.
Material and methods: Reirradiation of the chest wall can be performed using electron beams or alternatively CLDR/PDR (continuous/pulsed low dose rate) brachytherapy techniques with large skin moulds. With both techniques high doses can be applied to the chest wall while deeper-seated organs (lung, heart) can be spared to a large extent. Electron-beam therapy is readily available and the depth of treatment can be easily controlled by selecting the appropriate energy. The protracted irradiation schedule of CLDR/PDR brachytherapy results due to radiobiological reasons in a broad therapeutic ratio and safe treatment time.
Results: In the literature, more than 250 cases being reirradiated for chest wall local recurrences have been published. After retreatment using electron beams complete remissions were obtained in 41-74 % of the patients (brachytherapy 79-82 %). Severe grade IV complications (RTOG/EORTC) occurred in less than 10 % of the patients.
Conclusions: With regard to the limited treatment options reirradiation of chest wall local recurrences resulted in high local control rates while toxicity remained acceptable. These data weaken the radio-therapeutic dogma that reirradiation of the chest wall may not be possible.