Locoregional recurrence rates and prognostic factors for failure in node-negative patients treated with mastectomy: Implications for postmastectomy radiation

Conclusion: Postmastectomy radiation therapy has not been recommended for node-negative patients because the LRR rate is low in that population overall. This study suggests, however, that node-negative patients with multiple risk factors, including close margins, T2 or larger tumors, premenopausal status, and LVI, are at higher risk for LRR and might benefit from PMRT. Because the chest wall is the most common site of failure, treating the chest wall alone in these patients to minimize toxicity is reasonable.