Vessel based delineation guidelines for the elective lymph node regions in breast cancer radiation therapy – PROCAB guidelines. Issue 1 (January 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Verhoeven, Karolien; Weltens, Caroline; Remouchamps, Vincent; Mahjoubi, Khalil; Veldeman, Liv; Lengele, Benoit; Hortobagyi, Eszter; Kirkove, Carine
• Is Part Of: Radiotherapy and oncology. Volume 114:Issue 1(2015:Jan.)
• Page Start: 11
• Page End: 16
• Publication Date: 2015-01
• Subjects: Oncology -- Periodicals; Radiotherapy -- Periodicals; Tumors -- Periodicals; Medical Oncology -- Periodicals; Neoplasms -- radiotherapy -- Periodicals; Radiotherapy -- Periodicals; Radiothérapie -- Périodiques; Cancérologie -- Périodiques; Tumeurs -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 616.9940642
• DOI: 10.1016/j.radonc.2014.11.008
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0167-8140

Abstract

<abstract xml:lang="en" abstract-type="author" id="ab005"> <title id="st055">Abstract</title> <sec> <title id="st060">Objective</title> <p id="sp0005">A national project to improve the quality of breast radiation therapy was started, named PROCAB (PROject on CAncer of the Breast). One of the objectives was to reach a national consensus guideline for the delineation of the regional lymph node areas in breast radiation therapy.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="st065">Methods</title> <p id="sp0010">The realization of the new guidelines was a step by step process that started with multiple expert meetings where the existing guidelines were analyzed and the delineations of the lymph node regions were performed together with a surgeon, specialized in the anatomy of the drainage of the breast.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="st070">Results</title> <p id="sp0015">The delineation guidelines are vessel-based. Since the occurrence of pathological lymph nodes is typically around the veins, the cranial and caudal borders of all different nodal regions are based on a 5 mm margin around the veins, except for the parasternal lymph node area. Compared to the existing guidelines there are some major changes.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="st075">Conclusion</title> <p id="sp0020">With this project a national as well as a European (ESTRO) consensus guideline for the delineation of the regional lymph node areas in breast RT is reached. The new delineation atlas is vessel-based and no longer field-based.</p> </sec> </abstract>