No abstract

Breast conservation therapy after neoadjuvant chemotherapy results in acceptably low rates of LRR and IBTR in appropriately selected patients, even those with T3 or T4 disease. Advanced nodal involvement at diagnosis, residual tumor larger than 2 cm, multifocal residual disease, and lymphovascular space invasion predict higher rates of LRR and IBTR.

After neoadjuvant chemotherapy and mastectomy, comprehensive radiation was found to benefit both local control and survival for patients presenting with clinical T3 tumors or stage III-IV (ipsilateral supraclavicular nodal) disease and for patients with four or more positive nodes. Radiation should be considered for these patients regardless of their response to initial chemotherapy.

There are similarities between (99m)Tc ECDG uptake and (18)F FDG uptake in tumors, and study findings supported the potential use of (99m)Tc ECDG as a functional imaging agent.

These results suggest that effective treatment of MLS with low-dose radiation therapy alone is feasible and safe, and allows stomach preservation. Longer follow-up evaluation is required to determine the long-term efficacy of this treatment approach and its side effects. Further studies should clarify the indications for radiotherapy in H pylori-negative or antibiotic-resistant cases of MLS.