Would you consider treating the regional nodes in addition to the breast in a patient with skin involvement (pT4b) after a lumpectomy with negative margins/nodes who refuses chemotherapy?
Would a limited axillary dissection influence your decision? Any other risk factors that would sway your decision?
Answer from: Radiation Oncologist at Community Practice
I can't say that this is a commonly encountered scenario. It's tough to imagine the T4 patients that's a good upfront BCT candidate. In my opinion, it is very reasonable to consider RNI in a high risk node negative patient. High risk N0 patients were included in MA.20 and EORTC 229...
Answer from: Radiation Oncologist at Academic Institution
Absolutely. The PMRT trials included T3N0 patients (Overgaard), and that subgroup had the same benefit as the node positive group (especially in the younger pre-men patients). Also, there is a PMRT study from Helsinki that included node neg cases that also showed a benefit of RT, but the...