Preliminary results for prone-position breast irradiation Presented at the 86th Annual Meeting of the Radiologic Society of North America, Chicago, November 26–December 1, 2000. Marc-André Mahe *AJean-Marc Classe †, François Dravet †, Agnès Cussac * and Jean-Claude Cuilliere * Saint Herblain Cedex, France. Tel: (33) 02.40.67.99.00; Fax: (33) 02.40.67.97.09, E-mail: ma-mahe@nantes.fnclcc.fr A Reprint requests to: Marc-André Mahe, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Radiotherapy, Centre René Gauducheau, Site hospitalier Nord-Bd J. Monod, 44805 *Department of Radiotherapy, Centre René Gauducheau, Nantes, France[†]Department of Surgery, Centre René Gauducheau, Nantes, France Abstract Purpose: To evaluate an alternative prone-position technique for breast irradiation after conservative surgery. Methods and materials: A plexiglas platform with a circular opening for the breast and a double 30° craniocaudal and 10° transverse (left-right for the right breast and right-left for the left breast) slope was evaluated for positioning, the possible use of CT, and dosimetric study in 35 patients with large pendulous breasts who were likely to benefit from irradiation of the breast alone after conservative surgery. Results: The positioning was excellent for all but 3 obese patients who could not achieve adequate prolonged immobilization. The platform height and position made it possible to obtain CT in the other 32 patients. Three-dimensional dosimetry revealed that 85° and 265° angles of the tangential fields for the right breast and 275° and 95° angles for the left breast were adequate for all patients. The use of 4 or 6 MV photon energy and a variety of wedges made it possible to treat the whole breast and the chest wall. The high-dose regions of the base and the top of the breast did not exceed 105%. No interruption was necessary during treatment, and only grade I-II acute skin reactions were observed. Conclusion: The results of this study have demonstrated the feasibility of the technique, which has the great advantage of using a similar position for CT scanning and treatment. [01/10/2002; International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics] Ann's NOTE: When I was diagnosed in January 1993, I proposed 12 ideas for things I thought were really handled badly during diagnosis, treatment, etc. This was one of them. I had large breasts and I could not see why I couldn't lie prone if I was going to have radiation. It was one of the factors that helped me decide NOT to have radiation. Intl J Rad Onc, Bio, Phys, 11/02 Abstract #870 ASCO, 2004 Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.