A pilot study of radical radiotherapy using a perioperative implant following wide local excision for carcinoma of the breast

After breast conservation therapy the majority of local recurrences are in the affected quadrant. Radical perioperative radiotherapy could reduce the total treatment time to about 8 days. Selection of suitable patients is critical as published studies, using wide entry criteria, have had unacceptable local recurrence rates. The results of a pilot study of perioperative radiotherapy in selected patients with small unifocal cancers are presented, where no breast recurrences have occurred in all 11 women with a median follow-up of nearly 6 years.