ADDRESS
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Pusat Perubatan Universiti Malaya,
Lembah Pantai, 59100,
Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA
- Email : ummc@ummc.edu.my
TEL
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Phone No : 03-79494422
Fax : 03-79492030
WEBSITE
- WEBSITE : www.ummc.edu.my
WHAT IS IORT?
IORT stands for IntraOperative RadioTherapy and TARGIT stands for TARGeted IntraOperative RadioTherapy. IORT is a technique of delivering radiotherapy directly to the tissues surrounding a cancer (also known as the tumour bed) after its surgical removal.
University Malaya Medical Centre acquired an IORT system called Intrabeam (Carl Zeiss®, Germany) in 2015. We are privileged to be able to offer this state-of-art technique to our patients. Your doctor will discuss about the if you are suitable for this treatment.
WHY TARGIT IORT ?
Many women with early breast cancer would require radiotherapy after surgery. This is usually delivered using External Beam RadioTherapy (EBRT). Treatment is started a few weeks after surgery or chemotherapy. It is given on a daily basis over 3-5 weeks. The whole breast tissue is usually treated in this technique.
TARGIT IORT delivers the radiotherapy directly to the breast tissue in a single treatment during surgery itself. Several studies in breast cancer have confirmed its benefit in patients with low risk disease. Studies are ongoing to confirm its role in patients with higher risk disease.
HOW IS TARGIT IORT DONE?
The equipment used to deliver IORT is called Intrabeam®. It produces low energy X-ray radiation. Due to the low energy X-ray used, IORT for breast cancer can be given during surgery.
TARGIT IORT is delivered by a team of medical professionals. It usually involves the surgeons, oncologists, medical physicists, anaesthetists and nurses. The surgeons will remove the breast tumour in the usual manner. This creates a space in the breast called tumour cavity. A spherical applicator which is used to deliver the radiation is then placed into the tumour cavity. Radio-therapy is delivered over 20-50 minutes by oncologists and medical physicists. Once treatment is completed, the applicator is removed from the tumour cavity. The surgeons will inspect the wound site with absorbable stitches.
STEPS INVOLVED IN IORT
STEP 1
Tumor cavity is created in the breast
STEP 2
The spherical applicator is placed into the tumor cavity
STEP 3
Low energy radiation is delivered over 20-50 minutes
STEP 4
Applicator is removed after radiation and the wound is closed
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?
WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS?
Is TARGIT IORT suitable for me?
The decision whether IORT is suitable for you will be decided by your team of doctors based on various factors. This will be discussed and explained to you.
EBRT
The spherical applicators of various sizes to match the size of the tumour cavity