The following is for educational purposes only. For FDA-cleared INTRABEAM® Indications for Use, see indications 510k.
Intraoperative Radiotherapy (IORT) for Breast Cancer
In recent years, a new approach has been gaining ground in the treatment of breast cancer. Radical surgical methods are being replaced by less-invasive, breast-conserving therapy. Such a trend is now also appearing in radiotherapy. For certain patients, radiation oncologists are moving away from the current, largely standardized treatment plan to risk-adapted, tailored radiotherapy using intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT). Unlike the traditional irradiation, radiotherapy with the INTRABEAM® from ZEISS* directly irradiates the tumor bed, sparing surrounding healthy tissue. During the operation and immediately after the tumor is excised an approximate 30-minute irradiation procedure is performed. The standard approximate six weeks of post-op irradiation may be reduced.
Treatment Steps

Step 1 The position of the tumor is determined.

Step 2 During surgery a minimally invasive access point is created.

Step 3 The tumor is surgically removed.

Step 4 The correct size (Ø) of the applicator is determined and the applicator is positioned in the tumor bed.

Step 5 The tumor bed is locally irradiated for about 30 minutes.

Step 6 The applicator is removed and the incision closed.