%0 Journal Article
%T Vessel based delineation guidelines for the elective lymph node regions in breast cancer radiation therapy - PROCAB guidelines.
%A Verhoeven K
%A Weltens C
%A Remouchamps V
%A Mahjoubi K
%A Veldeman L
%A Lengele B
%A Hortobagyi E
%A Kirkove C
%J Radiother Oncol
%V 114
%N 1
%D Jan 2015
%M 25466373
%F 6.901
%R 10.1016/j.radonc.2014.11.008
%X <B>OBJECTIVE: </B>A national project to improve the quality of breast radiation therapy was started, named PROCAB (PROject on CAncer of the Breast). One of the objectives was to reach a national consensus guideline for the delineation of the regional lymph node areas in breast radiation therapy.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>The realization of the new guidelines was a step by step process that started with multiple expert meetings where the existing guidelines were analyzed and the delineations of the lymph node regions were performed together with a surgeon, specialized in the anatomy of the drainage of the breast.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>The delineation guidelines are vessel-based. Since the occurrence of pathological lymph nodes is typically around the veins, the cranial and caudal borders of all different nodal regions are based on a 5mm margin around the veins, except for the parasternal lymph node area. Compared to the existing guidelines there are some major changes.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>With this project a national as well as a European (ESTRO) consensus guideline for the delineation of the regional lymph node areas in breast RT is reached. The new delineation atlas is vessel-based and no longer field-based.