Benefits of Radiotherapy with Indigenous Tools Aiding Deep Inspiration Breath Holding Technique Compared to Free Breathing Technique among Breast Cancer Patients in Bangladesh

Background: Post-operative breast radiotherapy is used to reduce recurrence. The aim of this study was to investigate the outcomes of Deep Inspiration Breath-Hold (DIBH) technique with indigenous breath holding indicator scale in 3DCRT for breast cancer radiotherapy over Free Breathing (FB) technique. Methods: An observational study conducted at the Department of Radiation Oncology at National Institute of Cancer Research and Hospital, Dhaka and Square Hospital Limited, Dhaka, Bangladesh from June 2015 to May 2016. A total of 60 confirmed breast cancer patients who underwent adjuvant radiotherapy were included. An indigenous reproducible plastic tool (Perspex) was used as breath holding indicator scale with DIBH technique in 3DCRT. Paired sample t-test was used to compare with FB technique. Results: The mean age of patients was 47.32 (SD ± 8.33) years. In FB technique, Mean Heart Dose (MHD) was 413.27 cGy while in DIBH technique, it was 254.91 cGy (P < 0.001). The mean heart V20 and V30 were 5.5%, 4.37% in FB and 3.13%, 2.36% in DIBH respectively. In FB technique LADMD, LAD 0.2 cm3, ILMD and ILV20 were 1698.17 cGy, 2852.53 cGy, 1155.31 cGy and 28.62% while in DIBH technique, it was reduced to 1164.01 cGy, 2132.24 cGy, 1007.98 cGy and 23.39% respectively. Similarly, the lung-CLMD and breast-CLMD were reduced from 38.37 cGy and 55.18 cGy to 24.64 cGy and 33.82 cGy respectively (P < 0.001). The mean difference for breast-CLMD was 21.36 cGy. Conclusion: The use of indigenous breath holding indicator scale with DIBH had better outcomes on breast cancer radiotherapy.

Inter-Fraction Analysis of One Week Hypo-Fractionation of Deep Inspiration Breath Hold (DIBH) Technique for Left Sided Breast Cancer Radiation Treatment

The aim of this study was to investigate the inter-fraction variations, patient comfort and knowledge at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital (CMJAH). The differences in set-up that occurred between treatment sessions for the left sided breast patients were observed and recorded. Measurements of routine set-up variation for 24 patients were performed by matching the cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and the planning computed tomography (CT). Scans of all five fractions per patient were used to quantify the setup variations with standard deviation (SD) in all the three directions (anterior posterior, left right, and superior inferior). The patients DIBH comfort and knowledge was also evaluated. The average translational errors for the anterior posterior (AP, z), left-right (LR, x), and Superior-inferior (SI, y) directions were 0.40 cm, 0.40 cm, and 0.40 cm, respectively. The translation variation of the three directions showed statistical significance (P < 0.05). On comfort and knowledge investigation, among all participants, 80% moderately agreed that the therapist’s instructions for operating the deep inspiration breath hold (DIBH) technique were easy to understand, and 63.33% indicated that their comfort with the DIBH technique was neutral or average. The inter-fraction variations in patients with left-sided breast cancer were qualitatively analyzed. Significant shifts between CBCT and planning CT images were observed. The daily treatment verification could assist accurate dose delivery.

Application of Deep Inspiration Breath Hold Technique in Radiotherapy After Breast- Conserving Surgery for Left Breast Cancer and Its Improvement on Cardiac Dose

Objective:To analyze the application of deep inspiration breath hold technique in radiotherapy after breast-conserving surgery for left breast cancer and the improvement of cardiac dose.Methods:A total of 45 patients with left breast cancer treated in our hospital after breast-conserving surgery were selected,and the selection time was set from January 2020 to August 2022.All patients received radiotherapy.The right breast,heart,and lung volumes,and dose parameters of the heart,lungs,right breast,and left anterior descending coronary artery were compared under free breathing(FB)and deep inspiration breath hold(DIBH)technical modes.Results:The heart volume of the DIBH group was smaller than that of the FB group,and the left and right lung volumes were significantly larger than those of the FB group.In the DIBH group,the heart dose parameters V5,proper lung dose parameters,and left anterior descending coronary artery dose parameters were found lower than that of the FB group,and the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05).Conclusion:Compared with FB,the DIBH technique can reduce the heart’s size and increase the lung volume when used for radiotherapy after breast-conserving surgery for left breast cancer.It also reduces the dose to the heart,right lung,and left anterior descending coronary artery,thus protecting the heart and lungs.

A Region Holds Its Breath

Death of Ethiopian leader Meles Zenawi brings stability concerns in the Horn THERE＇s no doubt that Ethiopia＇s deceased prime Minister Meles Zenawi was a key cog in the stability, development and security in the Horn of Africa. His footprints, for the 21 years that he was