Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation

Dear Colleagues,

Accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) is a treatment option for selected patients with early-stage breast cancer. This technique aims to deliver a radiation dose to the tumor bed while sparing healthy breast tissue. Several modalities exist for APBI delivery, including interstitial brachytherapy, intracavitary brachytherapy, intraoperative radiotherapy, and external beam radiation therapy. Each method presents unique advantages and considerations regarding dose distribution, treatment protocol, and potential side effects.

Clinical trials have demonstrated comparable local control rates between APBI and whole breast irradiation (WBI) in carefully selected patients with early-stage breast cancer. Moreover, APBI has shown potential benefits in reduced toxicity, improved cosmetic outcomes, and quality of life.

Despite its promising results, APBI is not without controversy. Concerns persist regarding the risk of missing occult disease in untreated breast tissue and the long-term efficacy. A careful patient selection is crucial to ensure optimal outcomes.

The merits of APBI for isolated ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (IBTR) are being investigated.

The ongoing research aims to refine patient selection criteria, optimize treatment protocols, and evaluate long-term outcomes.

This Special Issue will be dedicated to APBI as part of personalized breast cancer treatment.

Dr. Roxolyana Abdah-Bortnyak
Guest Editor

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