[Diseases of the brachial plexus after surgery and irradiation of breast cancer (author's transl)].

The authors evaluated retrospectively the medical records of 1028 female and two male patients operated upon and post-irradiated because of a breast cancer. Thirty-nine among the female patients suffered from a plexus disease. When considering the reasons for the formation of this disease, one must not only suppose that the operation method and the influence of the dose is at its origin, but the hyperemization and hyperhydration which may develop in the early postoperative phase or due to hormonal action have to be taken into consideration, too. The following conclusions were drawn for patients submitted to radical operations: 1. The irradiations should not be started much earlier than twenty days after the operation. 2. The dose calculation and beginning of irradiations should be controlled very carefully for patients aged below 45 and/or patients presenting an oedema of the arm. 3. No maximum doses are administered to patients treated by hormonal and/or pharmacological therapy (not more than 42 to 45 Gy).