Long-term results of breast cancer irradiation treatment with low-dose-rate external irradiation.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess beam therapy with low-dose-rate (LDR) external irradiation in a group of patients with breast cancer.

Methods And Materials: This trial compared, from 1986 to 1989, patients with advanced breast cancer treated either by conventional fractionation or low-dose-rate (LDR) external radiotherapy (dose-rate 15 mGy/min, 5 sessions of 9 Gy delivered on 5 consecutive days).

Results: A total of 21 patients were included in the fractionated therapy arm.