Introduction:
The current approach of administering radiotherapy in breast cancer includes regional nodal irradiation (RNI) to all patients with node positive disease.With the esophagus lying in close proximity to the supraclavicular nodes (SCN) especially on the left side, the risk of exposure to the side effects of radiation from the supraclavicular field (SCF)is increased.
Aim:
Our aim was to determine the incidence and severity of acute radiation induced esophagitis (ARIE).
Materials and methods:
This was a single arm prospective study undertaken at Alexandria main university hospital. Patients with node positive disease, prescribed radiotherapy to the breast or chest wall plusSCF irradiation were identified and treated with 3D Con formal radiotherapy. Cervical esophagus was contoured from the beginning to the end of the CTV-SCN. Recorded variable included the mean and maximum dose to the cervical esophagus, mean dose to the full esophagus, length of in-field esophagus and tumor laterality. Toxicity was assessed once weekly clinically by physician assessment and use of a questionnaire. The common terminology criteria for adverse effects (CTCAE) Version.5 was used to grade ARIE