An audit of indications and techniques for supraclavicular fossa irradiation in early breast cancer in the United Kingdom.

This article describes an audit of the indications and techniques used by clinical oncologists in the United Kingdom (UK) in the delivery of adjuvant radiotherapy to the supraclavicular fossa (SCF) in patients with early breast cancer. A postal questionnaire was sent to one consultant clinical oncologist in each UK radiotherapy centre in November 1999. These were the same individuals listed in the Maher Committee Report as providing breast cancer services. Forty-one out of 51 completed forms were returned. The results show significant variation in the indications for SCF irradiation and for the definition of the radiotherapy target volume. We discuss the possible basis for the variations found in the audit. There was broad agreement on technique, in particular on the need for matching the tangential and SCF fields and maintaining patient position between fields, factors that are likely to minimize serious morbidity, including brachial plexus injury.