Intraoperative Radiation Therapy (IORT)

What is intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT)?

Intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) is a cancer treatment that delivers radiation during surgery. Your surgeon first removes the cancerous tumor. Then, your radiation oncologist delivers targeted radiation to the area where the tumor was removed. This helps increase the chances that the tumor won’t come back. IORT may be used to treat several types of cancer, but it’s most commonly used for breast cancer.

What conditions are treated with IORT?

Healthcare providers can use intraoperative radiation therapy for:

• Breast cancer.
• Skin cancers.
• Colon cancers.
• Gynecological cancers.
• Spine cancers.

Who is a candidate for intraoperative radiation therapy?

It depends on a variety of factors including what type of cancer you have, tumor size, and your overall health. Your surgeon and radiation oncologist will work together to determine if IORT is right for your specific case.

What happens during intraoperative radiation therapy?

On the day of your treatment, you receive general anesthesia so you remain asleep during the procedure. During intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT):

1. Your surgeon removes the tumor.
2. Your surgical oncologist places an applicator into the area where the tumor was removed.
3. Your radiation oncologist prescribes a specific amount of radiation, which travels through the applicator to target and treat the surrounding tissues.
4. Your surgical oncologist removes the applicator.
5. Your surgeon then closes the incision.

What are the benefits of IORT?

Traditionally, people who have cancer receive radiation therapy daily over several weeks. But with IORT, you get the required amount of radiation in a single session, allowing you to complete the entire course of radiation treatment in one appointment.

IORT offers multiple benefits, including:

• Fewer treatment sessions.
• Less damage to surrounding tissues.
• Lower risk of side effects.

How effective is intraoperative radiation therapy?

Several studies have shown that survival rates are similar, with fewer complications than traditional radiation therapy. Your oncologist will discuss the chances of tumor local recurrence, along with the risks and benefits of IORT, with you before treatment.

When should I call my healthcare provider?

Call your healthcare provider if you experience any severe or unexpected side effects after IORT, like:

• Bleeding.
• Discharge at the incision site.
• Fever or chills.

EBRT vs. IORT

In external beam radiation therapy (EBRT), a machine outside of your body directs radiation beams toward you. EBRT delivers radiation to the tumor and some of the surrounding tissue. Healthcare providers use lower daily doses of radiation during EBRT to minimize the risks to healthy tissue.

In intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT), a surgical oncologist places a radiation applicator inside your body. The radiation applicator then delivers radiation directly to the tissue surrounding the tumor cavity. Providers can use a higher dose of radiation during IORT because they’re able to target the tumor area only.