Background/aim: Adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) for breast cancer can be associated with acute dermatitis (ARD) and pneumonitis (RP). Prevalence and risk factors were characterized.
Patients and methods: This study included 489 breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant RT with conventional fractionation (CF) ± sequential or simultaneous integrated boost, or hypo-fractionation ± sequential boost. RT-regimen and 15 characteristics were investigated for grade ≥2 ARD and RP.
Results: Prevalence of grade ≥2 ARD and RP was 25.3% and 2.5%, respectively. On univariate analyses, ARD was significantly associated with CF and radiation boost (p<0.0001), age ≤60 years (p=0.008), Ki-67 ≥15% (p=0.012), and systemic treatment (p=0.002). On multivariate analysis, RT-regimen (p<0.0001) and age (p=0.009) were associated with ARD. Chronic inflammatory disease was significantly associated with RP on univariate (p=0.007) and multivariate (p=0.016) analyses.
Conclusion: Risk factors for grade ≥2 ARD and RP were determined that may help identify patients who require closer monitoring during and after RT.
Keywords: Breast cancer; acute dermatitis; adjuvant radiotherapy; pneumonitis; prevalence; risk factors.
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