Foreword

Article Outline

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Therapy for early stage breast cancer has progressed in a stepwise, evidence-based fashion for over a century, beginning with the earliest surgical data of Halsted and his contemporaries. Subsequently, randomized trials of extended radical mastectomy, breast conservation, chemotherapy, and hormonal therapy in both invasive and in situ disease have contributed to an enormous–and expanding–body of literature. In addition, meta-analyses have further clarified this wealth of knowledge and further optimized therapy.

It is not surprising then, that when a promising new technology becomes available for these patients, it will be scrutinized extensively and adapted cautiously. Such is the case with partial breast irradiation. The subject of this issue of the Journal, partial breast irradiation potentially could minimize not simply the breast volume treated, but also the number of visits patients must make to complete breast conserving radiotherapy. A prospective, randomized trial is ongoing, but until those data are available, Drs Chronowski and Buchholz have nicely synthesized the technical and preliminary clinical aspects of the practice. It is an admirable summary of a potentially important new treatment modality.