[Radiotherapy and breast cancer. A review of the literature].

Breast cancer is the commonest neoplastic disease in women; radiotherapy is frequently used in patients with breast cancer. In the past decade, most attention has been devoted to conservative treatment of early (Stage I-II) breast cancer. Informations derived from the literature, about results, cosmesis, risk of relapse, and the various problems of combining radiotherapy with different surgical approaches and with chemotherapy, are presented and discussed. Recent data about post mastectomy irradiation and treatment of locoregional relapses, and about the role of radiotherapy in treating locally advanced and inflammatory breast cancer, are also presented and discussed.