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Partial breast irradiation

Accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) is a relatively recent therapeutic approach. It consists of irradiating the breast, but not in its entirety, and limiting the area to be irradiated to the lumpectomy site and a limited adjacent volume. Several techniques are used for APBI, including brachytherapy, intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) and external irradiation with IMRT. 

All of these techniques significantly reduce treatment duration as well as the irradiation of neighbouring structures, which allows patients to return to their normal lives within a shorter time frame. In some places, they also avoid the difficulties of access to radiotherapy centres. The most frequently used method at Clinique de Genolier is intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT), but interstitial brachytherapy (with Iridium) and endocardial treatments (MammoSite) can also be applied, as well as highly conformational percutaneous radiotherapy (IMRT, VMAT, tomotherapy, etc.).