Influence of age on short-term complications after intraoperative radiotherapy in women after breast-conserving surgery

• Published in: Anticancer research 2013-09, Vol.33 (9), p.3995-3999
• Main Authors: Tuschy, Benjamin, Berlit, Sebastian, Romero, Simone, Sperk, Elena, Wenz, Frederik, Kehl, Sven, Sütterlin, Marc
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acute toxicity; Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Breast Neoplasms - radiotherapy; Breast Neoplasms - surgery; Combined Modality Therapy; Female; Humans; Intraoperative Care; Mastectomy, Segmental - methods; Radiotherapy - adverse effects; Retrospective Studies
• ISSN: 0250-7005; 1791-7530

We investigated the influence of age on short-term complications in women undergoing intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) for early breast cancer. We retrospectively analyzed data of 188 women who underwent IORT during breast-conserving surgery (BCS). The study group consisted of 54 patients aged 70 years or older. One hundred and thirty four patients aged less than 70 years served as the control group. In both collectives, the acute toxicity was low. There were no significant differences regarding type and duration of surgery, and type of radiation treatment, comparing both collectives. The most frequent postoperative side-effects were haematoma/suggillation (13/54, 24.1% vs. 28/134, 20.9%; p=0.633). There was a significantly higher incidence of postoperative axillary haematoma in the study group (10/54, 18.5% vs. 10/134, 7.5%; p=0.026). Acute toxicity after BCS with IORT in women aged 70 years and older does not seem to be higher compared to younger patients.