THE INFLUENCE OF RADIOTHERAPY ON COSMETIC OUTCOME AFTER BREAST CONSERVATIVE SURGERY

Purpose: The influence of radiotherapy in the cosmetic outcome after c onservative surgery for breast cancer was evaluated using an objective method of calculating the asymmetry between the two breasts. Methods and Materials: One hundred and one patients treated with the same cons ervative surgery were evaluated for cosmetic outcome. Sixty-one of the m received external radiotherapy (50 + 10 Gy) to the residual breast; the remaining 40 underwent surgery only. The aspect of the patients' b reasts was objectively assessed for symmetry by means of a computerize d technique. A subjective assessment of the cosmetic outcome was perfo rmed both by physician and patient. These objective and subjective ass essments were compared in the two groups treated with or without radio therapy. Results: The results obtained did not show significant differ ences in terms of cosmetic outcome in the two groups, Skin telangectas ia was noted in two radiotherapy patients, while hypertrophic breast s cars were only noted in six nonirradiated patients. Conclusions: We fo und that standard radiotherapy does not seem to influence the symmetry and the cosmetic results in breast conservative treatment when compar ed to a similar group of patients with the same quadrantectomy procedu re and no radiotherapy.