Dosimetric Comparison of Three-Dimensional Conformal Radiotherapy, Forward-Planned Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy and Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy in Intact Breast Radiotherapy without Lymphatic Irradiation

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The present study aimed to determine the most suitable technique for whole breast radiotherapy after breast conserving surgery in patients without lymph node involvement; those that constitute the majority of breast cancer cases. Three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT), that is widely used, forward planned intensity-modulated radiotherapy (forIMRT), that is accepted to be cost-effective, and volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT), that has become available recently, were dosimetrically compared. METHODS: Computed tomography simulation cross-sections of 16 patients with right breast cancer and 19 patients with left breast cancer, who had been treated with forIMRT, were used in the study. All planning was done using Eclipse 10.0 treatment planning system. A conventional scheme consisting of a total dose of 50Gy