Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39687475›Full record

ArticleAdvances in radiation oncology2025

Ultrahypofractionated Adjuvant Breast Radiation Therapy (± Boost) and Virtual Consultations: Patient Perspectives at 1 Year.

Jill Theresa Nicholson, Sinead Cleary, Gemma Farmer, Orla Monaghan, Hannah O' Driscoll, Killian Nugent, Bahareh Khosravi, Eaine Quinlan, Orla McArdle, Fran K Duane

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Advances in radiation oncology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–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 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
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

10 authors.

Jill Theresa NicholsonSt. Luke's Radiation Oncology Network, St. Luke's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
Sinead ClearySt. Luke's Radiation Oncology Network, St. Luke's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
Gemma FarmerSt. Luke's Radiation Oncology Network, St. Luke's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
Orla MonaghanSt. Luke's Radiation Oncology Network, St. Luke's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
Hannah O' DriscollSt. Luke's Radiation Oncology Network, St. Luke's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
Killian NugentSt. Luke's Radiation Oncology Network, St. Luke's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
Bahareh KhosraviSt. Luke's Radiation Oncology Network, St. Luke's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
Eaine QuinlanSt. Luke's Radiation Oncology Network, St. Luke's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
Orla McArdleSt. Luke's Radiation Oncology Network, St. Luke's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
Fran K DuaneSt. Luke's Radiation Oncology Network, St. Luke's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Purpose: In March 2020, a 1-week ultrahypofractionated adjuvant breast radiation therapy schedule, 26 Gy in 5 fractions, and telehealth were adopted to reduce the risk of COVID-19 for staff and patients. This study describes real-world 1-year late toxicity for ultrahypofractionation (including a sequential boost) and patient perspectives on this new schedule and telehealth workflows. Methods and Materials: Consecutive patients were enrolled between March and August 2020. Patient-reported outcome measures, including the presence of breast pain, swelling, firmness, and others, were recorded using the European Organisation for research and treatment of cancer quality of life questionairre (EORTC QLQ) BR45 at baseline, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year. Virtual teleconferencing without video was used. Patients were invited to use video at 1 year for a physician-based assessment, including breast inspection. Patient-reported experience measures were also collected at 1 year to capture how a shortened schedule and telehealth influenced patient experience. Results: In total, 121 of 135 patients completed at least 2 assessments, of which 33 (25%) received a sequential boost. The majority of patients reported no toxicity or mild toxicity at all 3 time points: 76% at 3 months, 76% at 6 months, and 82% at 1 year. When comparing 26 Gy in 5 fractions alone versus 26 Gy in 5 fractions followed by a sequential boost, there was no difference in toxicity reported at 1 year. A total of 94% felt supported by the medical team throughout their treatment course using telehealth-only consultations. Only 27% actually agreed to video consultation for the purpose of breast inspection when offered. Conclusions: Ultrahypofractionated breast radiation therapy leads to acceptable late toxicity at 1 year, even when followed by a hypofractionated tumor bed boost. Patient satisfaction with ultrahypofractionated treatment and virtual consultations without video was high. Further investigation concerning the patient's acceptance of video consultations for a physician-based assessment, including breast inspection, is warranted.

Identifiers

PMID39687475
PMCPMC11647082

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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.