Case report

Single dose targeted intraoperative radiotherapy (TARGIT) for breast cancer can be delivered as a second procedure under local anaesthetic

Jayant S Vaidya¹ , Lynn Walton² and John Dewar³

¹  Departments of Surgery & Molecular Oncology, Level 6, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, University of Dundee, Dundee, DD1 9SY, UK

²  Department of Anaesthesia, Level 6, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, University of Dundee, Dundee, DD1 9SY, UK

³  Department of Clinical Oncology, Level 6, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, University of Dundee, Dundee, DD1 9SY

author email corresponding author email

World Journal of Surgical Oncology 2006, 4:2doi:10.1186/1477-7819-4-2

Published:	17 January 2006

Abstract

Background

Intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) is promising approach that is being tested in randomised clinical trials. In the Targit (TARGeted Intraopeartive radioTherapy) trial IORT can be delivered at the time of primary surgery or as a second procedure. Patients prefer the single procedure of intraoperative radiotherapy even if it is under general anaesthetic to 6-weeks of daily visits for conventional external beam radiotherapy.

Case presentation

We report a case of a 70 year lady who underwent lumpectomy and axillary sampling and in whom we successfully administered IORT under local anaesthetic.

Conclusion

In selected patients, this attractive option may make the procedure even more widely applicable.