Impact of right-sided breast cancer adjuvant radiotherapy on the liver
effect of radiotherapy on liver
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Objective: In patients with right-sided breast cancer the liver can be partially irradiated during adjuvant radiotherapy. We aimed to determine breast cancer radiotherapy effects on liver using with magnetic resonance elastography and biological results.
Materials and Methods: This retrospective study enrolled 34 patients diagnosed with right-sided breast cancer who underwent adjuvant radiotherapy. Liver segment assessments were conducted using Magnetic Resonance Elastography (MRE) for all participants. Additionally, a complete blood count and liver enzyme analysis were performed for each patient. All measurements were taken both prior to the initiation and upon completion of radiotherapy.
Results: A statistically significant difference was found in ALT (p=0.015), ALP (p=0.026), total protein (p=0.037), and albumin (p=0.004) levels before and after radiotherapy. The highest mean liver stiffness (kPa) value was recorded in segment 8, while the lowest was observed in segment 6. A weak but statistically significant positive correlation was found between segment 5 stiffness and liver volume (p=0.039). Additionally, a statistically significant positive correlation was detected between ALP levels and the stiffness values in segment 4A (p=0.020) and segment 6 (p=0.003). Conversely, a weak negative correlation was observed between the stiffness values in segment 8 and post-radiotherapy total protein levels (p=0.031).
Conclusion: MRE can help us identify the level of fibrotic stiffness in the liver segments within the RT area without establishing clinical symptoms. MRE can support the clinician in evaluating the liver functions of right breast cancer patients who underwent RT. We assume these results will facilitate new studies with a large number of patients on MRE imaging at certain intervals in the follow-up of patients with right breast cancer who received RT before the development of RILD.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Gonca HANEDAN USLU, Filiz TAŞÇI

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
License to Publish
Please read the terms of this agreement, print, initial page 1, sign page 3, scan and send the document as one file attached to an e-mail to gsersa@onko-i.si