In the intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) protocol, a high dose of radiation is focused on the remaining tissue surrounding a tumor that has been removed in a lumpectomy surgery while the patient is still in the operating room. No further radiation treatment is required following IORT. Furthermore, in addition to limiting the exposure of distant breast tissue to radiation, physicians are also able to shield underlying organs like the heart and lungs from radiation.

Appropriate patient selection and expert surgical technique are both critical to the success of IORT because clean margins must be present after the tumor is removed before it is advisable to limit radiation treatment to just the tumor site. By offering IORT in the setting of a clinical trial approved by the Stanford Institutional Review Board (IRB) you can be assured that if you are deemed an appropriate candidate for IORT, every care has been taken to maximize your likelihood of success.