[Irradiation of internal mammary nodes: State of the art]

In the adjuvant breast cancer treatment, postoperative radiotherapy plays a principal part with an action against the microscopic residual disease in the lymph nodes after mastectomy as well as after breast conserving surgery. This positive effect is observed also in the case of small inner lesions in patients without lymph node involvement. At the same time, there is a recognized risk of cardiac toxicity directly related to the irradiation of internal mammary nodes. This paper is a report on the current available techniques to irradiate the internal mammary nodes, including promising new technology that may help limiting the risk of cardiac toxicity.