EFFECT OF CHANGE IN THE NECK POSITION ON DOSIMETRIC PARAMETERS OF THE OESOPHAGUS IN BREAST CANCER PATIENTS UNDERGOING SUPRACLAVICULAR IRRADIATION

Volume 13 , Issue 4 , July 2025 , Pages 371-377

Authors

Soma S. Mohammed Amin 1 ; Kharman A. Faraj 2

1 College of Health & Medical Technology in Sulaimani, Sulaimani Polytechnic University, Kurdistan Region, Iraq.

2 College of Science, University of Sulaimani, Kurdistan Region, Iraq.

DOI logo 10.17656/jsmc.10431

Keywords

Abstract

Background
A limited number of publications examine approaches to decreasing esophageal dose and acute esophagitis
during breast cancer radiotherapy (RT).
Objectives
This study aimed to analyze the effect of the two different neck positions when the neck turned to the
contralateral side or straight on dosimetric parameters such as mean dose (Dmean) maximum dose (Dmax), and
volume of esophagus receiving doses (Vx), in breast patients (BC) who require supraclavicular irradiation.
Materials and Methods
Of all patients undergoing chest wall and supraclavicular regional node irradiation with a dose of 40Gy in 15
fractions, 25 patients were simulated with their necks straight (NS) group, whereas 25 patients with tilted neck
position (NT) group. Dmean, Dmax, V5
, V10, V15, and V20 were calculated and converted to EQD2 (Equivalent dose
in 2 Gy fractions).
Results
Dmean, V5
, V10, V15, and V20 were signifi cantly lower in (straight neck position) SN group patients when compared
to the (tilted neck position) TN group (P values <0.05). Dmax was slightly higher in the SN group than the
NT group (p= 0.083). When the laterality of breast cancer was evaluated in the two groups, all dosimetric
parameters (Dmax, Dmean, V5, V10, V15, and V20 ) were higher in left-sided breast cancer as compared in rightsided breast cancer for SN and NT groups (P values <0.05).
Conclusion
We found that the positioning of a straight neck resulted in considerable oesophagal sparing. Therefore,
esophagitis may be reduced, which substantially impacts the quality of life of BC survivors.

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  • First online26 July 2025
  • Published at26 July 2025

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