HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - for those deciding between balloon catheter APBI and 7 week whole breast radiation

Lani · 12-01-2006, 09:28 AM

The balloon is injected with contrast material and saline, and then the patient is sent to radiation oncology for dosing, ie, the introduction of radioactive seeds into the saline-filled balloon. Dosimetry is done with computed tomography (CT).

"The patient may feel some pressure, but there is really no pain associated with the procedure at all," Dr. Mendelson told the conference. The entire procedure is guided by ultrasound.

Patients are followed up with mammography and ultrasound. According to Dr. Mendelson, whole-breast irradiation often reveals significant edema, and this is lessened significantly with the balloon catheter procedure.

Responding to a question at the news conference, Dr. Mendelson noted that there is currently a National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project trial involving 3000 subjects in 2 treatment groups, 1 group receiving whole-breast irradiation, the other PBI. However, in the PBI group of this trial, there is a choice in external-beam radiation using the Mamocyte device or multiple catheters. She did not have the number of patients who chose the former.

In the Northwestern study, there was cancer recurred in 1 patient. "This surgery was not done at Northwestern," said Dr. Mendelson.

"No surprises here, but very good clinical application," said Nancy Ellerbroek, MD, from Valley Radiotherapy Associates of Valencia, California. Dr. Ellerbroek was not affiliated with this study and was a spokesperson provided by RSNA. "I think all patients having a choice would prefer having an ultrasound screening, such as this, to a CT scan with the balloon already in place."

According to Dr. Ellerbroek, ultrasound is in wider use.

"Many surgeons now use ultrasound in the operating room to screen for the distance between the seroma and the skin, while there's still a possibility of intervention to reapproximate tissue, and render the patient eligible for placement of a balloon catheter at a later date. It would be best for patients if more surgeons and radiation oncologists used ultrasound on a routine basis, and this study gives good data to support that."

This study did not receive commercial support. Dr. Mendelson is on the advisory board of the Medipattern Corporation.

RSNA 92nd Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting: Abstract SSM01-05. Presented November 29, 2006.

12-01-2006, 09:28 AM	#3
Lani Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 4,778	continued further The balloon is injected with contrast material and saline, and then the patient is sent to radiation oncology for dosing, ie, the introduction of radioactive seeds into the saline-filled balloon. Dosimetry is done with computed tomography (CT). "The patient may feel some pressure, but there is really no pain associated with the procedure at all," Dr. Mendelson told the conference. The entire procedure is guided by ultrasound. Patients are followed up with mammography and ultrasound. According to Dr. Mendelson, whole-breast irradiation often reveals significant edema, and this is lessened significantly with the balloon catheter procedure. Responding to a question at the news conference, Dr. Mendelson noted that there is currently a National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project trial involving 3000 subjects in 2 treatment groups, 1 group receiving whole-breast irradiation, the other PBI. However, in the PBI group of this trial, there is a choice in external-beam radiation using the Mamocyte device or multiple catheters. She did not have the number of patients who chose the former. In the Northwestern study, there was cancer recurred in 1 patient. "This surgery was not done at Northwestern," said Dr. Mendelson. "No surprises here, but very good clinical application," said Nancy Ellerbroek, MD, from Valley Radiotherapy Associates of Valencia, California. Dr. Ellerbroek was not affiliated with this study and was a spokesperson provided by RSNA. "I think all patients having a choice would prefer having an ultrasound screening, such as this, to a CT scan with the balloon already in place." According to Dr. Ellerbroek, ultrasound is in wider use. "Many surgeons now use ultrasound in the operating room to screen for the distance between the seroma and the skin, while there's still a possibility of intervention to reapproximate tissue, and render the patient eligible for placement of a balloon catheter at a later date. It would be best for patients if more surgeons and radiation oncologists used ultrasound on a routine basis, and this study gives good data to support that." This study did not receive commercial support. Dr. Mendelson is on the advisory board of the Medipattern Corporation. RSNA 92nd Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting: Abstract SSM01-05. Presented November 29, 2006.