Purpose: To evaluate the dosimetric gain obtained in either the planning target volume or organs at risk coverage by the use of intensity-modulated radiation therapy in some particular postoperative breast cancers.
Patients and method: Prospective dosimetric comparison between monoisocentric conformal radiotherapy and intensity-modulated radiation therapy in nine patient files.
Results: Using intensity-modulated radiation therapy was shown to improve in each case, at least one conformity, homogeneity, and coverage index either for planning target volumes or for organs at risk. Intensity-modulated radiation therapy was therefore always chosen rather than conformal monoisocentric radiotherapy.
Conclusions: Indications to retain intensity-modulated radiation therapy would consist of bilateral lesions, pectus excavatum, past thoracic irradiation (Hodgkin's disease) and complex volumes in obese or overweight patients.
Keywords: Breast cancer; Cancer du sein; Intensity modulation; Modulation d’intensité; Radiotherapy; Radiothérapie.
Copyright © 2013 Société française de radiothérapie oncologique (SFRO). Published by Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.