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Surface-guided radiation therapy for breast cancer: more precise positioning
A González-Sanchis1, L Brualla-González2, C Fuster-Diana3
1Department of Radiation Oncology, ERESA, Hospital General Universitario de Valencia (CHGUV), Avenida Tres Cruces, No. 2, 46014, Valencia, Spain. amparogs66@gmail.com.
Summary
Surface-guided radiation therapy (SGRT) significantly improves patient positioning accuracy in breast cancer radiotherapy compared to traditional skin markers. This advanced technique accurately verifies the tumor bed, enhancing treatment precision and reducing unnecessary radiation exposure.
Area of Science:
- Radiation Oncology
- Medical Physics
- Breast Cancer Treatment
Background:
- Hypofractionated radiation therapy for breast cancer demands precise image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT).
- Surface-guided radiation therapy (SGRT) is increasingly adopted for patient positioning in breast radiotherapy.
- The study evaluates SGRT's efficacy in verifying breast radiotherapy and the tumor bed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the role and accuracy of SGRT in breast cancer radiotherapy.
- To compare SGRT patient positioning with conventional skin markers.
- To evaluate SGRT's ability to verify tumor bed localization.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study involving 252 early-stage breast cancer patients.
- 1170 daily positioning measurements using SGRT (AlignRT).
- Correlation of breast surface positioning with surgical clips in the tumor bed, verified by IGRT (ExacTrac).
Main Results:
- SGRT demonstrated a significant improvement in surface matching (98.0%) versus skin markers (92.7%) (p < 0.01).
- High surface matching rates (>95%) correlated with accurate tumor bed localization (≥3 clips coincided in 99.7%).
- Accurate tumor bed verification was achieved with SGRT, with ≥3 clips coinciding in 99.55% of determinations at >90% surface matching.
Conclusions:
- SGRT enhances patient positioning accuracy in breast radiotherapy compared to skin markers.
- Optimal SGRT effectively verifies tumor bed localization, ensuring precise alignment with surgical clips.
- SGRT offers a method to potentially reduce radiation dose from IGRT verification systems.
