Radiation-Induced Skin Pigmentation After Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation: Dose-Volume Histogram Analysis

Abstract

This research demonstrates the treatment of breast cancer with high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy in the 34 Gy mode performed in 10 twice-a-day treatments, six hours apart over a period of five days. According to the protocol the maximum allowable radiation exposure for the skin did not exceed 34 Gy. By May 2019, 28 patients were treated with a mean follow-up of 10.5 months, with the median of the study being 11 months. Among these patients, 7 had shown toxic effects on the skin in the form of pigmentation. For these patients parameters such as Dmax, D0.01сс, D0.1сс, D1сс, and D2сс were analysed. Among the patients, some had the same values or higher but did not exhibit toxic effects. Therefore, the expected effects, as well as the results of treatment, are very individual and dependent on many factors. We can only try to minimise them. As a result, it is necessary to show care with values of Dmax ≥ 33 Gy, D0.01сс ≥ 32, D0.1сс ≥ 30, D1сс ≥ 27 and D2сс ≥ 24.