PURPOSE To describe the first documented use of partial breast irradiation (PBI) in a patient with calcinosis, Raynaud's phenomenon, esophageal dysmotility, sclerodactyly, and telangiectasias (CREST) syndrome. METHODS AND MATERIALS A 50-year-old woman with well-controlled CREST syndrome for 6 years was diagnosed with bilateral early-staged breast cancers. She underwent bilateral lumpectomies,...

The purpose of this study is to dosimetrically compare two plans generated using single dwell position method (SDPM) and multiple dwell position methods (MDPM) in MammoSite high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy planning for 19 breast cancer patients. In computed tomography (CT) image-based HDR planning, a surface optimization technique was used in both methods. Following dosimetric parameters were...

PURPOSE To review institutional experience treating patients who underwent breast conserving surgery and adjuvant accelerated partial breast irradiation with multilumen balloon brachytherapy (MLB) with close skin spacing (≤7 mm). MATERIAL AND METHODS Since July 2009, 26 patients with skin spacing ≤ 7.0 mm were treated with breast-conserving therapy and adjuvant MLB brachytherapy. Patients wer...

Breast conserving surgery (BCS) with following external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) of the conserved breast has become widely accepted in the last decades for the treatment of early invasive breast cancer. The standard technique of EBRT after BCS is to treat the whole breast up to a total dose of 42.5 to 50 Gy. An additional dose is given to treated volume as a boost to a portion of the breas...

PURPOSE To evaluate the dosimetric performance and clinical utility of the Strut-Adjusted Volume Implant (SAVI) (Cianna Medical, Aliso Viejo, CA) applicator when used as the sole method of radiation therapy for patients with early breast carcinoma. METHODS AND MATERIALS The dosimetric performance of a Phase II clinical trial has been reported using the SAVI applicator for patients with early ...

PURPOSE To evaluate outcomes among women with American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) consensus statement cautionary features treated with brachytherapy-based accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI). METHODS AND MATERIALS Between March 2001 and June 2006, 322 consecutive patients were treated with high-dose-rate (HDR) APBI at the University of Wisconsin. A total of 136 patients ...

Introduction: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women. Brachytherapy is one of the ways to treat breast cancer. In brachytherapy treatments, high-dose sources are used in interstitial placement. Here, Iridium-192 is used. This source emits gamma rays with energies ranging from 136 kV to 1060 kV electron volts. The activity of the used spring is 10 Ci. The simulated ...

PURPOSE The Strut-Adjusted Volume Implant (SAVI; Cianna Medical, Aliso Viejo, CA) is a multichannel single-entry brachytherapy device designed to allow dose modulation to minimize normal tissue dose while simultaneously maximizing target coverage. This is the first report on the initial 102 patients with nearly 2 years of median follow-up. METHODS AND MATERIALS One hundred two patients were t...

PURPOSE To determine differences in patient's reported quality of life and self-reported breast cosmesis between whole breast radiation therapy (WBRT) and accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) via single and multi-lumen high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy for women with early stage breast cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS Patient information was retrospectively reviewed and survey data were...