Circulation in the breast after radiotherapy and breast conservation

Objective: To investigate the breast circulation after radiotherapy and breast conservation. Design: Open clinical study. Setting: University hospital, Sweden. Subjects: 24 patients with breast cancer (mean age 54 years, range 41–64). Interventions: The glandular and the subcutaneous circulation in the breast were measured by Xenon (133Xe) clearance and the skin circulation by laser Doppler fluxmetry (LDF) two to five years after radiotherapy (50 Gy) following lumpectomy. The subcutaneous circulation was measured 2 cm above and medial or lateral to the areolar border and the glandular circulation 2 cm below and medial or lateral to the areolar border in the quadrant not previously operated on for carcinoma. The skin circulation was measured at the corresponding sites. Main outcome measures: Circulation in the subcutaneous and glandular tissue measured by 133Xe clearance and in the skin by LDF. Results: The subcutaneous circulation, expressed as the ratio of 133Xe clearance in the operated irradiated: non‐operated nonirradiated breast, was 0.88 (0.94) (median, interquartile range) and the glandular circulation 0.93 (0.75). The skin circulation ratios over the corresponding areas were 1.00 (0.37) and 1.00 (0.38), respectively. Conclusion: Radiotherapy after breast conservation surgery does not lead to long‐term changes in basal glandular, subcutaneous, or skin circulation in the breast. Copyright © 2001 Taylor and Francis Ltd.