Intraoperative Radiation Therapy for Breast Cancer Treatment

Adam Dickler, M.D.

Intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) is an experimental way to deliver radiation as part of breast conservation therapy. If IORT is found to be equivalent to whole breast irradiation, this could mean more convenient care for patients, reduced waiting times, and considerable savings for health-care systems. However, a lack of long-term clinical data and reimbursement issues are holding back the widespread adoption of this modality.  

Radiation oncologist Adam Dickler, M.D., of the Little Company of Mary Hospital, discusses his center's experience with IORT, how it compares to outpatient APBI and what it means for the future of breast cancer treatment. Read more

Do you offer IORT as a treatment option in your practice? If so, what advantages do you see? If not, are your reasons clinical or financial? Email us - we want to hear your thoughts!

Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation

The MD Anderson Physician's Network recently established a Speaker's Bureau Educational Series to provide credentialed physicians, nurses and allied health personnel information to timely topics in oncology. 

In this presentation, Elizabeth Bloom, M.D., associate professor of radiation oncology at MD Anderson, provides a thorough overview of the principles of APBI, including:   

• Benefits of various brachytherapy devices
• Patient selection & consensus guidelines
• Current protocols at MD Anderson
• Reducing toxicity
• CT cavity evaluations
• Planning examples