Early outcomes data for accelerated partial breast irradiation using balloon brachytherapy

Abstract

Accelerated partial breast irradiation has been investigated in selected patients with early-stage breast cancer. Accelerated partial breast irradiation limits the radiation target to the volume of tissue immediately surrounding the lumpectomy cavity and reduces the overall treatment time from approximately 6 weeks to 5 days. Balloon brachytherapy was introduced in 2000. Since that time, several clinical experiences have demonstrated excellent outcomes in carefully selected patients. Modern intracavitary brachytherapy offers patients with early-stage breast cancer a promising new option for radiation therapy. This treatment appears to offer high rates of local control with minimal toxicity. Newer multilumen devices allow optimal target coverage while minimizing the dose delivered to the skin and chest wall.

Keywords::

• accelerated partial breast irradiation
• brachytherapy
• breast cancer
• radiotherapy

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.