Effect of Nodal Irradiation and Fraction Size on Cardiac and Cerebrovascular Mortality in Women With Breast Cancer Treated With Local and Locoregional Radiotherapy

Regional RT was associated with a small (1.5% at 12 years), but statistically significant, increased risk of death from a CCV event. The addition of regional RT did not significantly increase the risk of death from stroke, although the number of events was small. An increased fraction size was not significantly associated with a greater risk of fatal CCV events. These data support the continued use of hypofractionated adjuvant regional RT.