Interstitial brachytherapy technique for chest wall refractory recurrence of breast cancer

PURPOSE: To report the treatment effect of interstitial brachytherapy for chest wall locoregional recurrence of breast cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This 44-year-old female presented with chest wall recurrence seven years after modified radical mastectomy for stage II breast cancer. Despite external beam radiation and chemotherapy, the lesion expanded as 5.3 × 5.1 × 3.0 cm(3), and 8.0 × 5.1 × 4.0 cm(3). The locoregional recurrent tumor was treated with interstitial brachytherapy under ultrasound guidance. The brachytherapy dose was 30 Gy in 6 fractions of 5 Gy each. RESULTS: Removal of the recurrent tumor was securely achieved by interstitial brachytherapy guided with ultrasound scanning. The refractory tumor in patient healed uneventfully after interstitial brachytherapy without recurrence during the 7 months of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The ultrasound-guided interstitial brachytherapy may be effective for refractory recurrence of breast cancer.