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. 2015;88(1055):20150414.
doi: 10.1259/bjr.20150414. Epub 2015 Sep 22.

Correlation between anthropometric parameters and acute skin toxicity in breast cancer radiotherapy patients: a pilot assessment study

Benoîte Méry  1 , Alexis Vallard  2 , Jane-Chloé Trone  2 , Cécile Pacaut  1 , Jean-Baptiste Guy  2 , Sophie Espenel  2 , Julien Langrand-Escure  2 , Edouard Ollier  3 , Guoping Wang  1 , Peng Diao  2 , Lise Bigot  2 , Sylvie Mengue Ndong  2 , Claire Bosacki  1 , Majed Ben Mrad  2 , Nicolas Magné  2
Affiliations

Correlation between anthropometric parameters and acute skin toxicity in breast cancer radiotherapy patients: a pilot assessment study

Benoîte Méry et al. Br J Radiol. 2015.

Abstract

Objective: The objective of the present study was to identify acute skin toxicity risk factors linked to the anthropometric characteristics of patients with breast cancer treated with radiation therapy.

Methods: Consecutive patients with breast cancer were enrolled after breast-conserving surgery and before radiotherapy course. Acute skin toxicity was assessed weekly during the 7 weeks of radiotherapy with the International Classification from National Cancer Institute. Grade 2 defined acute skin toxicity. Patient characteristics and anthropometric measurements were collected.

Results: 54 patients were enrolled in 2013. Eight patients (14.8%) had grade ≥2 toxicity. The average weight and chest size were 65.5 kg and 93.6 cm, respectively. Bra cup size is significantly associated with a risk of grade 2 dermatitis [odds ratio (OR) 3.46, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.29-11.92), p = 0.02]. Anthropometric breast fat mass measurements, such as thickness of left [OR 2.72, 95% CI (1.08-8.26), p = 0.04] and right [OR 2.45, 95% CI (0.99-7.27), p = 0.05] axillary fat, are correlated with an increased risk. Distance between the pectoral muscle and nipple is a reproducible measurement of breast size and is associated with acute skin toxicity with significant tendency (OR = 2.21, 95% CI (0.97-5.98), p = 0.07).

Conclusion: Breast size and its different anthropometric measurements (thickness of left and right axillary fat, nipple-to-pectoral muscle distance) are correlated with the risk of skin toxicity.

Advances in knowledge: The present article analyses several characteristics and anthropomorphic measurements of breast in order to assess breast size. A standardized and reproducible protocol to measure breast volume is described.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Anthropological assessment on dosimetric CT scan: 1 and 2: nipple-to-pectoral muscle distance on healthy/treated side; 3: skin-to-xiphoid distance; 4: skin-to-spinous process distance; 5: right axillary fat thickness; 6: left axillary fat thickness.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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