The case against IORT in the management of early stage breast cancer

Abstract

Since the development of breast conserving therapy (BCT) that incorporated standard fractionation whole breast irradiation (WBI) delivered daily over 5–7 weeks, there has been a concerted effort to shorten the duration of adjuvant radiation therapy as a way to improve convenience and compliance, reduce costs, and potentially reduce toxicities. Over the past decade, an unprecedent shift in breast radiation techniques and regimens has led to the emergence of shorter courses of WBI (5–15 fractions) as well as partial breast approaches which also reduce treatment duration to 1–3 weeks.