OBJECTIVE We aimed to investigate the effects of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in managing postmastectomy lymphedema. BACKGROUND DATA Postmastectomy lymphedema (PML) is a common complication of breast cancer treatment that causes various symptoms, functional impairment, or even psychosocial morbidity. A prospective, single-blinded, controlled clinical trial was conducted to examine the effec...

BACKGROUND AND AIM Numerous consensus reports recommend that postmastectomy radiotherapy (RT) in addition to systemic therapy is indicated in high-risk patients with 4+ positive nodes, but not in patients with 1-3 positive nodes. A subgroup analysis of the DBCG 82 b&c trials was performed to evaluate the loco-regional recurrence rate and survival in relation to number of positive nodes. MATER...

AIMS To obtain a better understanding of the changes in radiotherapeutic management of breast cancer patients in the more developed areas of China over the past decade. METHODS Four academic radiation therapy departments located on the Southeast Coast of China were selected for the study. The survey was conducted on female breast cancer patients who received radiotherapy in 1999 and 2006. The...

INTRODUCTION This study served the following three purposes: To evaluate the prophylactic effect against seroma of a single dose of steroid in the mastectomy cavity, to evaluate the thesis that there is a connection between subclinical bacterial colonization and seroma formation and to evaluate if a simple urine stix test can detect postmastectomy infection. MATERIAL AND METHODS This was a do...

BACKGROUND To determine the usefulness of ultrasonography in the assessment of post radiotherapy skin changes in postmastectomy breast cancer patients. METHODS Patients treated for postmastectomy radiotherapy in National University Hospital (NUH) and Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH), Singapore between January 2004- December 2005 was recruited retrospectively. Ultrasound scan was performed on the...

BACKGROUND The study aimed to evaluate local and national trends in immediate breast reconstruction (IBR) using the national English administrative records, Hospital Episode Statistics. Our prediction was an increase in implant-only and free flap procedures and a decline in latissimus flap reconstructions. METHODS Data from an oncoplastic center were interrogated to derive numbers of implant-...

AIM To present the segmented photon beams technique (SPBT) for irradiation of postmastectomy patients. BACKGROUND In majority of techniques for irradiation of posmastectomy patients, a few adjacent photon or electron beams were usually implemented in order to encompass different parts of the target. In the presented SPBT technique, the radiotherapy plan consists of 6 isocentric photon beams a...