Technical innovations

Intraoperative radiation therapy in the treatment of early-stage breast cancer utilizing xoft axxent electronic brachytherapy

Adam Dickler¹ , Olga Ivanov² and Darius Francescatti³

¹  Department of Radiation Oncology, Little Company of Mary Hospital, Evergreen Park, IL 60805, USA

²  Department of General Surgery, Little Company of Mary Hospital, Evergreen Park, IL 60805, USA

³  Department of General Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA

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World Journal of Surgical Oncology 2009, 7:24doi:10.1186/1477-7819-7-24

Published:	2 March 2009

Abstract

Background

In an effort to overcome the barriers to BCT, alternative methods of delivering radiation therapy have been explored. APBI allows the radiation treatment to be accomplished in one week or less. XB is a form of balloon-based APBI that uses an electronic source generated by a mobile controller unit. Investigators have also explored IORT treatment that delivers a single fraction of radiation in the operating suite at the time of surgery.

Methods

We report on the first patient treated with XB to deliver IORT.

Results

IORT treatment utilizing XB is feasible and can be accomplished with a total procedure time of approximately 2 hours.

Conclusion

Further research on XB and other methods of IORT is needed to establish clinical efficacy and safety for patients with early-stage breast cancer.