Mechanical properties of the shoulder and pectoralis major in breast cancer patients undergoing breast-conserving surgery with axillary surgery and radiotherapy

Sci Rep. 2019 Nov 28;9(1):17737. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-54100-6.

Abstract

Breast-conserving surgery (BCS) and radiotherapy reduce breast cancer recurrence but can cause functional deficits in breast cancer survivors. A cross-sectional study quantified the long-term pathophysiological impact of these treatments on biomechanical measures of shoulder stiffness and ultrasound shear wave elastography measures of the shear elastic modulus of the pectoralis major (PM). Nine node-positive patients treated with radiotherapy to the breast and regional nodes after BCS and axillary lymph node dissection (Group 1) were compared to nine node-negative patients treated with radiotherapy to the breast alone after BCS and sentinel node biopsy (Group 2) and nine healthy age-matched controls. The mean follow-up for Group 1 and Group 2 patients was 988 days and 754 days, respectively. Shoulder stiffness did not differ between the treatment groups and healthy controls (p = 0.23). The PM shear elastic modulus differed between groups (p = 0.002), with Group 1 patients exhibiting a stiffer PM than Group 2 patients (p < 0.001) and healthy controls (p = 0.027). The mean prescribed radiotherapy dose to the PM was significantly correlated with passive shear elastic modulus (p = 0.018). Breast cancer patients undergoing more extensive axillary surgery and nodal radiotherapy did not experience long-term functional deficits to shoulder integrity but did experience long-term mechanical changes of the PM.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Breast Neoplasms / physiopathology
  • Breast Neoplasms / radiotherapy*
  • Breast Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Elastic Modulus
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Mastectomy, Segmental
  • Middle Aged
  • Pectoralis Muscles / physiopathology*
  • Pectoralis Muscles / radiation effects
  • Pectoralis Muscles / surgery
  • Shoulder / physiopathology*
  • Shoulder / radiation effects
  • Shoulder / surgery

Associated data

  • figshare/10.6084/m9.figshare.8870798