Dosimetric Comparison of Involved-Field Three-Dimensional Conformal Photon Radiotherapy and Breast-Sparing Proton Therapy for the Treatment of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in Female Pediatric Patients

Purpose To assess the potential reduction in breast dose for young girls with Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL) treated with breast-sparing proton therapy (BS-PT) as compared with three-dimensional conformal involved-field photon radiotherapy (3D-CRT). Methods and Materials The Clarian Health Cancer Registry was queried for female pediatric patients with the diagnosis of HL who received radiotherapy at the Indiana University Simon Cancer Center during 2006–2009. The original CT simulation images were obtained, and 3D-CRT and BS-PT plans delivering 21 Gy or cobalt gray equivalent (CGE) in 14 fractions were created for each patient. Dose–volume histogram data were collected for both 3D-CRT and BS-PT plans and compared by paired t test for correlated samples. Results The cancer registry provided 10 female patients with Ann Arbor Stage II HL, aged 10–18 years at the time of treatment. Both mean and maximum breast dose were significantly less with BS-PT compared with 3D-CRT: 0.95 CGE vs. 4.70 Gy ( p < 0.001) and 21.07 CGE vs. 23.11 Gy ( p < 0.001), respectively. The volume of breast receiving 1.0 Gy/CGE and 5.0 Gy/CGE was also significantly less with BS-PT, 194 cm3 and 93 cm3 , respectively, compared with 790 cm3 and 360 cm3 with 3D-CRT ( p = 0.009, 0.013). Conclusion Breast-sparing proton therapy has the potential to reduce unnecessary breast dose in young girls with HL by as much as 80% relative to involved-field 3D-CRT.