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A simple device to position large/flaccid breasts during tangential breast irradiation
1Department of Radiation Oncology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710.
Summary
A new device helps reposition large or flaccid breasts for radiation therapy. This technique improves treatment accuracy and makes previously untreatable cases manageable.
Area of Science:
- Radiation Oncology
- Medical Device Design
Background:
- Treating large or flaccid breasts with tangential photon fields presents technical challenges due to breast positioning.
- Difficulty in achieving optimal breast placement can lead to suboptimal radiation delivery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and evaluate a novel device for repositioning large or flaccid breasts on the chestwall.
- To facilitate tangential photon field irradiation in challenging breast anatomies.
Main Methods:
- A reinforced polyvinylchloride ring device with a chest strap was developed.
- The device repositions breast tissue, and a strap secures it, allowing for treatment setup marks.
Main Results:
- Successfully treated twelve patients with large/flaccid breasts.
- The device reduced lung tissue inclusion and enabled tangential fields in cases previously difficult to treat.
- Reproducibility and acute reactions were deemed acceptable by staff.
Conclusions:
- The breast repositioning appliance is effective for radiation therapy in patients with large or flaccid breasts.
- This device can make radiation therapy feasible for patients previously considered untreatable.