Comparison of Dose Distribution in Breast Cancer Radiation Therapy: Risk Assessment of Mastitis

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in women. Radiation therapy is used as one of the main methods of treatment for this type of cancer. Breast radiation therapy can cause various side effects, including mastitis. Evaluation and comparison of dosimetry in this field can help to improve treatment planning. Methods: In this cross-sectional analytical study, 40 breast cancer patients were evaluated at Milad Hospital, Isfahan, in 2023. Mastitis incidence was assessed during treatment and up to 40 days post-treatment. Mean maximum, minimum, and average doses were compared between patients with and without mastitis. Findings: The results indicated that the number of patients with mastitis increased gradually during the first six weeks of treatment (1, 3, 5, 6, 10, and 13 patients, respectively). The highest incidence of mastitis was observed in the sixth week. Moreover, 12 patients (30) developed mastitis within the first month post-treatment. Dosimetric parameters were significantly higher in breast cancer patients with mastitis compared to those without. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that precise optimization of treatment protocols using dosimetric parameters can effectively reduce the incidence of breast inflammation in patients undergoing breast cancer radiotherapy. © 2025 Isfahan University of Medical Sciences(IUMS). All rights reserved.