A Prospective Study of Cosmetic Outcomes for Patients Treated with Breast Conservation and Radiation Therapy using Shorter Fractionation Schedules at Auckland Hospital, New Zealand.

Breast cosmesis is an important outcome for women after breast conservation. It has been shown to be correlated with better patient satisfaction, sexuality and self-esteem. This study reports the subjective and objective breast cosmesis outcomes for women treated at Auckland Hospital Radiation Oncology Department using hypofractionated radiation therapy. Breast cosmesis was evaluated using a subjective questionnaire and standardised photographs before radiation, at 6 weeks, 1 year, 3 years and 5 years after radiation. Objective evaluation of the photographs and completion of questionnaires were undertaken by clinicians at the same time points. The questionnaire evaluated global cosmesis on a four-point scale – excellent (E), good (G), fair (F) and poor (P). Patient, tumour and treatment factors were evaluated to assess the impact on cosmesis. Three hundred and fifty-eight patients completed the baseline assessments and two hundred and two patients completed the 5-year assessments. Sixty-eight per cent of patients at baseline and 70% at 5 years scored their cosmesis as E/G compared with 52% and 51%, respectively, by clinician assessment. Age >50 years, separation ≤25 cm, non-diabetic, T1 tumours, node negative, quadrant of the scar, no boost and no adjuvant endocrine therapy were correlated with E/G cosmesis. On multivariate analysis at baseline, the individual breast factors that were significantly associated with a score of E/G cosmesis were breast shape (P = 0.028) and scar appearance (P = 0.001). At 5 years, breast shape (P = 0.003), nipple shape (P = 0.019) and scar appearance (P = 0.001) were found to be significant. This study shows that most women reported no significant change in their breast cosmesis after hypofractionated radiation treatment over 5 years and that a number of patient, tumour and treatment factors may impact on breast cosmesis. • 70% of patients report excellent/good cosmesis after hypofractionated radiation. • Factors affecting cosmesis include: • Patient age >50 years, separation ≤25 cm, non-diabetic. • Tumour size and node negative. • Surgical scar position, radiation dosimetry, no boost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]