Longterm blood cell counts after intraoperative radiotherapy with or without whole breast radiotherapy in breast cancer patients.

e12014Background: After radiotherapy changes in blood cell counts (BCC) can be seen. Leukocytopenia may have a negative impact on the immune system, outcome and quality of life of breast cancer survivors. No reports on changes of the three blood cell lines (leukocytes=WBC, erythrocytes=RBC, thrombocytes=PLT) after IORT w/o whole breast radiotherapy (WBRT) in breast cancer patients have been reported. Methods: 256 patients had IORT during breast conserving surgery. In 198 patients WBRT (46-50Gy/2Gy) + IORT (20Gy) and in 58 patients IORT as accelerated partial breast irradiation=APBI (20Gy) was given. Preoperative BCC were used as baseline. In 214 patients BCC were available after 1-90 days, in 139 during the 1st year, in 86 in the 2nd, in 66 in the 3rd, in 51 in the 4th and in 34 in the 5th year of follow-up. Dunnett-tests were used to calculate adjusted p-values (p<0.05=significant). Results: After IORT/WBRT a decrease of WBC was seen during the 1st year. Afterwards no changes were seen. After IORT APBI n...