J Breast Cancer.  2016 Sep;19(3):275-282. 10.4048/jbc.2016.19.3.275.

Radiation Pneumonitis in Association with Internal Mammary Node Irradiation in Breast Cancer Patients: An Ancillary Result from the KROG 08-06 Study

• Choi J
• Kim YB
• Shin KH
• Ahn SJ
• Lee HS
• Park W
• Kim SS
• Kim JH
• Lee KC
• Kim DW
• Suh HS
• Park KR
• Shin HS
• Suh CO

• KMID: 2413952
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4048/jbc.2016.19.3.275

Abstract

PURPOSE
The aim of this study is to present the incidence of radiation pneumonitis (RP) reported within 6 months after treatment for breast cancer with or without internal mammary node irradiation (IMNI).
METHODS
In the Korean Radiation Oncology Group (KROG) 08-06 phase III randomized trial, patients who were node-positive after surgery were randomly assigned to receive radiotherapy either with or without IMNI. A total of 747 patients were enrolled, and three-dimensional treatment planning with computed tomography simulation was performed for all patients. Of the 747 patients, 722 underwent chest X-rays before and within 6 months after radiotherapy. These 722 patients underwent evaluation, and RP was diagnosed on the basis of chest radiography findings and clinical symptoms. The relationship between the incidence of RP and clinical/dosimetric parameters was analyzed.
RESULTS
RP developed in 35 patients (4.8%), including grade 1 RP in 26 patients (3.6%), grade 2 RP in nine patients (1.2%); there was no incidence of grade 3 or higher RP. Grade 2 RP cases were observed in only the IMNI group. The risk of developing RP was influenced by IMNI treatment; pneumonitis occurred in 6.5% of patients (n=23/356) who underwent IMNI and in 3.3% of patients (n=12/366) who did not (p=0.047). The differences in lung dosimetric parameters (mean lung dose, V10-40) were statistically significant between the two groups.
CONCLUSION
IMNI treatment resulted in increased radiation exposure to the lung and a higher rate of RP, but the incidence and severity of RP was minimal and acceptable. This minor impact on morbidity should be balanced with the impact on survival outcome in future analyses.

Keyword

Breast neoplasms; Lymphatic irradiation; Radiation pneumonitis

MeSH Terms

Breast Neoplasms*
Breast*
Humans
Incidence
Lung
Lymphatic Irradiation
Pneumonia
Radiation Exposure
Radiation Oncology
Radiation Pneumonitis*
Radiography
Radiotherapy
Thorax

Figure

• 

  Figure 1 KROG-08-06 trial diagram. KROG=Korean Radiation Oncology Group; ALND=axillary lymph node dissection; BCS=breast-conserving surgery; MRM=modified radical mastectomy; IMNI=internal mammary node irradiation.

• 

  Figure 2 Dosimetric parameters of both internal mammary node irradiation (IMNI) and non-IMNI groups. All dosimetric parameters (V10–40) were significantly different between treatment groups. Data are the mean±SD.

• 

  Figure 3 Dosimetric parameters in the patients with radiation pneumonitis. All dosimetric parameters were significantly different between the radiation pneumonitis (RP) and non-RP groups (A), not significantly different between grade 1 and grade 2 RP (B). Data are the mean±SD.

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