What is one of the primary purposes of using a breast board in radiation therapy?

Using a breast board in radiation therapy primarily serves to position the patient’s arm above the shoulders and out of the lateral treatment field. This positioning is crucial as it helps to increase the accuracy of the radiation targeting the breast tissue while minimizing exposure to surrounding healthy tissues, such as the lungs and heart. By elevating the arm, the breast board allows for better access to the treatment area, facilitating a more comfortable setup for the patient and enhancing the treatment's effectiveness.

The design of the breast board also aids in reproducibility, ensuring that the patient can be positioned consistently in subsequent treatment sessions, which is vital for the integrity of radiation therapy plans. This technique is particular to breast cancer treatment but demonstrates a broader principle of using positioning devices in radiation therapy to optimize treatment outcomes effectively.