A Comparison in Cosmetic Results of Cobalt 60 and Photon 9 Mega Volt for the Whole Breast Radiotherapy in Breast Cancer Patients with Breast Conserving Surgery

Background: to compare the cosmetic results of whole breast radiotherapy between cobalt 60 and photon 9megavolt in patients underwent breast conserving surgery. methods: the patients with breast saving surgery who were treated by whole breast radiotherapy with either cobalt 60 or photon 9mv between 2001-2006 in sayed-al-shohada hospital entered the study. the cosmetic results were evaluated by an expert radiation oncologist with definite criteria. results: frothy patients in cobalt 60 group and 43 patients in photon group were compared, with median follow up of 40.5 months. the patients in photon group had less telangectasia and discoloration (p=0.018 and p=0.01, respectively). the consistency of breast in photon group was better (p=0.019), but for fibrosis the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.055).overall cosmetic results in photon group was much better rather than cobalt 60 group (p=0.005). no recurrences were observed in both groups. conclusion: cosmetic results in group with photon 9mv were superior to cobalt group, but the effect of these two beam energy on disease free survival (dfs) and /or overall survival (os) should be in more consideration.