Interstitial brachytherapy technique for chest wall refractory recurrence of breast cancer

PURPOSE To report the treatment effect of interstitial brachytherapy for chest wall locoregional recurrence of breast cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS This 44-year-old female presented with chest wall recurrence seven years after modified radical mastectomy for stage II breast cancer. Despite external beam radiation and chemotherapy, the lesion expanded as 5.3 × 5.1 × 3.0 cm(3), and 8.0 × 5.1 × 4.0 cm(3). The locoregional recurrent tumor was treated with interstitial brachytherapy under ultrasound guidance. The brachytherapy dose was 30 Gy in 6 fractions of 5 Gy each. RESULTS Removal of the recurrent tumor was securely achieved by interstitial brachytherapy guided with ultrasound scanning. The refractory tumor in patient healed uneventfully after interstitial brachytherapy without recurrence during the 7 months of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS The ultrasound-guided interstitial brachytherapy may be effective for refractory recurrence of breast cancer.