In a graduation thesis of the education “Medical Imaging and Radiotherapeutic Techniques” (MBRT), conducted for the Medisch Spectrum Hospital in Twente, R. de Vries and J. Karst compared the prone and the supine treatment position when irradiating women with breast cancer. For the prone position, the Sagittilt Prone Breast Solution of Orfit Industries was used.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. Common treatments for breast cancer are breast-conserving surgery or mastectomy. Breast-conserving surgery is followed by radiation therapy. A part of the heart and a part of the lungs are irradiated during irradiation of the breast in the current position (supine). This can lead to heart failure and lung injury after 10 to 15 years. Therefore, it is important that the dosage for the heart and lungs is kept as low as possible. Irradiation of the breast in prone position is a technique that aims to save the heart and lungs. The advantages and disadvantages of this position compared with the supine position were investigated in this study by creating a treatment plan for both positions.
Based on this study it can be concluded that treating breast cancer in the prone position is a good alternative to the supine position. It provides a lower dose of irradiation in the heart and the left lung upon irradiation of the left breast after breast-conserving surgery.
The Sagittilt Prone Breast Solution has recently been cleared by the FDA and is now officially for sale in the United States as well.
More information about the Sagittilt Prone Breast Solution can be found on our website.
