Automatic segmentation of cardiac structures can change the way we evaluate dose limits for radiotherapy in the left breast.

Purpose: Radiotherapy is a crucial part of breast cancer treatment. Precision in dose assessment is essential to minimize side effects. Traditionally, anatomical structures are delineated manually, a time-consuming process subject to variability.

Can we predict who will benefit from the deep inspiration breath hold (DIBH) technique for breast cancer irradiation?

Background: The objective was to explore the clinical use of an "in-house" prototype developed to monitor respiratory motion to implement the deep inspiration breath hold technique (DIBH), compare dosimetric differences, and assess whether simple anatomic metrics measured on free breathing (FB) computed tomography scan (CT) can help in selecting patients that would benefit the most from the technique.

Materials And Methods: A prospective study was conducted on patients with left breast cancer with an indication of adjuvant radiotherapy for breast only. Treatment simulation consisted of four series of CTs: the first during FB and three in DIBH to assess the reproducibility and stability of apnea.

Hypofractionated radiotherapy in breast cancer: a 10-year single institution experience.

Background: Moderately post-operative hypofractionated radiotherapy (HYPO-RT) for breast cancer is a safe and effective strategy as seen in large prospective trials. This study aimed to assess overall and disease-free survivals, local control, and acute and late toxicities in patients treated with HYPO-RT.

Materials And Methods: Data from patients submitted to post-operative HYPO-RT, with or without boost, were evaluated retrospectively.

Complications after breast reconstruction with alloplastic material in breast cancer patients submitted or not to post mastectomy radiotherapy.

Background And Purpose: Breast reconstruction following mastectomy is a relevant element of breast cancer treatment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of radiotherapy (RT) on local complications in patients with breast cancer that had undergone breast reconstruction with alloplastic material.

Materials And Methods: Retrospective study of breast cancer patients submitted to mastectomy and breast reconstruction from 2009 to 2013.

Impact of thoracic radiotherapy on respiratory function and exercise capacity in patients with breast cancer.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of thoracic radiotherapy on respiratory function and exercise capacity in patients with breast cancer.

Methods: Breast cancer patients in whom thoracic radiotherapy was indicated after surgical treatment and chemotherapy were submitted to HRCT, respiratory evaluation, and exercise capacity evaluation before radiotherapy and at three months after treatment completion. Respiratory muscle strength testing, measurement of chest wall mobility, and complete pulmonary function testing were performed for respiratory evaluation; cardiopulmonary exercise testing was performed to evaluate exercise capacity.

What a difference a clip makes! Analysis of boost volume definition in radiation therapy for conservative breast surgery.

Purpose/objective(s): To evaluate the role of surgical clips placement in the definition of boost treatment volume.

Materials/methods: Clinical Target Volumes (CTV) were defined as: CTV Breast, CTV Quadrant (based on physical exam and pre-surgical images), CTV Boost, defined by clip plus margin (1 cm for 2 or more clips and 2 cm for 1 clip only) plus radiological changes, CTV NT (normal tissue), defined by CTV Quadrant minus CTV Boost and CTV MISS (CTV that would be outside the treatment volume), defined by CTV Boost minus CTV Quadrant.

Results: A total of 247 patients were included.

Implementation of image-guided brachytherapy (IGBT) for patients with uterine cervix cancer: a tumor volume kinetics approach.

Purpose: To evaluate tumor shrinking kinetics in order to implement image-guided brachytherapy (IGBT) for the treatment of patients with cervix cancer.

Material And Methods: This study has prospectively evaluated tumor shrinking kinetics of thirteen patients with uterine cervix cancer treated with combined chemoradiation. Four high dose rate brachytherapy fractions were delivered during the course of pelvic external beam radiation therapy (EBRT).

Evaluation of different magnetic resonance imaging contrast materials to be used as dummy markers in image-guided brachytherapy for gynecologic malignancies.

Objective: To identify a contrast material that could be used as a dummy marker for magnetic resonance imaging.

Materials And Methods: Magnetic resonance images were acquired with six different catheter-filling materials-water, glucose 50%, saline, olive oil, glycerin, and copper sulfate (CuSO4) water solution (2.08 g/L)-inserted into compatible computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging ring applicators placed in a phantom made of gelatin and CuSO4.

Breast irradiation and lactation: a review.

The incidence of breast cancer in premenopausal women is increasing and many of them still remain fertile after treatment. Allied to the current tendency to postpone pregnancy, it is expected that an increasing number of patients undergoing conservative treatment for breast cancer will get pregnant. Anatomical and histopathological aspects and the probability of lactation and breast feeding after breast irradiation are reviewed in this article.