Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38741780›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in oncology2024

Is there any radiation-induced brachial plexopathy after hypofractionated postmastectomy radiotherapy with helical tomotherapy?

Thinnakorn Chomchai, Pitchayaponne Klunklin, Siam Tongprasert, Thanat Kanthawang, Piyapasara Toapichattrakul, Imjai Chitapanarux

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in oncology, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Thinnakorn ChomchaiDivision of Radiation Oncology, Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Pitchayaponne KlunklinDivision of Radiation Oncology, Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Siam TongprasertDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Thanat KanthawangDepartment of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Piyapasara ToapichattrakulDivision of Radiation Oncology, Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Imjai ChitapanaruxDivision of Radiation Oncology, Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction: Radiation-induced brachial plexopathy (RIBP) is one of the most concerning late radiation effects after hypofractionated postmastectomy radiotherapy (HF-PMRT) to the chest wall and regional lymph nodes. The purpose of this study was to investigate the RIBP events occurring in breast cancer patients after HF-PMRT using intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) by helical tomotherapy. Furthermore, the dosimetric parameters of the ipsilateral brachial plexus were reported. Materials and methods: Breast cancer patients who underwent HF-PMRT using the IMRT via HT at our institute were included. In the first cohort, subjective RIBP symptoms were measured using a QuickDASH questionnaire, whereas objective RIBP events were assessed using a comprehensive physical evaluation in the second cohort. The ipsilateral brachial plexus from all eligible patients' treatment plans was contoured, and the dosimetric parameters were explored. Results: From March 2014 to December 2022, 229 patients were enrolled; 107 and 72 individuals were in the first and second cohorts, respectively. The first cohort's median follow-up period was 27 months, and the second cohort was 31 months. In the first cohort, 80 patients (74.77%) had a normal function, 21 (19.63%) had a mild grade, and 6 (5.61%) had a moderate grade; no severe or very severe RIBP was observed. However, the comprehensive physical evaluation of the second cohort indicated no RIBP events. Dosimetric analysis revealed that the median maximum dose was 44.52, 44.52, and 44.60 Gy; the median mean dose was 33.00, 32.23, and 32.33 Gy; and the median dose at 0.03 cc was 44.33, 44.36, and 44.39 Gy for all patients, patients in the first and second cohort, respectively. Each dosimetric parameter was evaluated, and no statistically significant differences were detected. Conclusion: The absence of RIBP events supports the safety of employing HF-PMRT by HT for the chest wall and all regional lymph nodes. We propose that applying the ICRU Report 83 criteria for IMRT planning, which limit the maximum dose (107% of the prescribed dose) to less than 2% of the planning target volume and exclude the brachial plexus region from the maximal dose area, is a practical way to minimize the risk of RIBP from HF-PMRT.

Indexed as

breast cancerhelical tomotherapy (HT)hypofractionated postmastectomy radiotherapyintensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT)radiation induced brachial plexopathy (RIBP)

Identifiers

PMID38741780
PMCPMC11089205

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.