Study: Preoperative Radiotherapy May Allow More Conservative Surgery

Radiotherapy given to women preoperatively may allow for a more conservative surgical approach to large breast tumors, according to researchers from Henri Mondor University Hospital, in Créteil, France.

Under optimal conditions, preoperative radiotherapy may allow the possibility of conservative surgery on breast tumors that are larger than 3 cm., according to the study published in the International Journal of Cancer.

Researchers studied 74 women, age 32 to 82, with 75 non-metastatic breast tumors. All of the women were treated with primary external beam radiation followed by surgical removal of the tumors (tumorectomy) or reduction mammaplasty. The women who were treated with a tumorectomy were given a boost of radiotherapy after their surgery. All of the women were followed up for 10 years.

There were 9 recurrences, treated by mastectomy in 8 cases and by tumorectomy in one case. Secondary dissemination was seen in 25 women. Forty-seven women were still alive and free of disease at the time of the study's publication. The cosmetic results were considered to be excellent or satisfactory in 71 women.

Researchers concluded that the choice between the two treatments depends on the patient's condition and on a precise analysis of all prognostic factors.

Other Sources: International Journal of Cancer