RT Journal
A1 Formenti SC, DeWyngaert J, Jozsef G, Goldberg JD
T1 PRone vs supine positioning for breast cancer radiotherapy
JF JAMA
JO JAMA
YR 2012
FD September 5
VO 308
IS 9
SP 861
OP 863
DO 10.1001/2012.jama.10759
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/2012.jama.10759
AB 
To the Editor: Adjuvant radiotherapy to the breast contributes to improved outcomes in breast cancer patients after breast preservation surgery.1 However, whole breast radiotherapy is associated with damage to the heart and lung, increased cardiovascular mortality, and lung cancer development, with risks that remain 15 to 20 years after treatment.2 These consequences occur when breast cancer patients are treated supine. Preliminary data on prone positioning suggest that radiation exposure to the heart and lung can be reduced compared with supine positioning3- 4 with similar efficacy.5 To test the hypothesis that prone positioning is superior to standard supine positioning, we compared the volume of heart and lung within the radiation field in a prospective study of patients who underwent simulation in both positions.