An overview of Intraoperative Radiation Therapy
Intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) is a radiation treatment that is administered during surgery. The goal of IORT is to target the cancerous area while minimizing the impact on surrounding tissue. It is often used for cancers that are difficult to remove completely and when there is a concern that microscopic cancer cells might remain after surgery.
What is Intraoperative Radiation Therapy used for?
Intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) is used for treating cancers that are difficult to remove during surgery, and when there's a concern that tiny amounts of unseen cancer might remain. IORT directs radiation to the target area while minimizing the effect on surrounding tissue. It is often combined with standard radiation therapy and delivers higher doses of radiation compared to standard radiation therapy. IORT helps keep radiation away from nearby organs, making it a useful treatment option for challenging cases.
How is Intraoperative Radiation Therapy conducted?
Intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) is a type of radiation treatment that is done during surgery. It is used to treat cancers that are difficult to remove and when there is a concern that tiny amounts of unseen cancer might remain. Intraoperative electron radiation therapy is the most common type of IORT used. IORT is often combined with standard radiation therapy, which is usually done before surgery. IORT delivers higher doses of radiation than standard radiation therapy, which may not be possible to use during standard radiation therapy due to the risk of radiation affecting nearby organs.
Understanding the report
Intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) results are typically interpreted by considering the effectiveness of the treatment in targeting the cancerous tissue while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue. The interpretation of IORT results involves assessing the degree of tumor shrinkage, the absence of cancer cells in the surgical margins, and the overall response of the patient to the treatment.
The success of IORT is measured by factors such as local control of the tumor, which means that the cancerous cells are eliminated or reduced within the targeted area. If the tumor remains unchanged or has grown after IORT, it might indicate that the treatment was not effective.
In addition to local control, the absence of cancer cells in the surgical margins (the edges of the tissue removed during surgery) is an important factor in evaluating the success of IORT. If cancer cells are found in the margins, it may suggest that some cancerous tissue was left behind or that the treatment did not completely remove the tumor.
Overall, the interpretation of IORT results is a complex process that requires careful evaluation by medical professionals, such as radiation oncologists and surgeons, who can determine the most appropriate course of action based on the individual patient's case and treatment outcomes.