Subtotal-skin electron-beam therapy once a week for inflammatory breast carcinoma

Subtotal-skin electron-beam therapy (SSEB) was employed once a week in the treatment of 22 patients with recurrent inflammatory breast carcinoma between 1971 and 1976. The entire upper torso received 400 rad once a week for 6 consecutive weeks, using 3.5-MeV electrons from a 6-MeV linear accelerator. Seventeen patients (77%) obtained complete response and 3 (14%) had partial response, for a total response rate of 91%. Remission lasted for six months or longer in 35% of those exhibiting complete response. Treatments were tolerated well. The authors suggest that this is an excellent palliative method of treating this rapidly progressive disease.