title: Intraoperative irradiation: current and future status.
abstract: Intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) in its broadest sense refers to the delivery of irradiation at the time of an operation. This article will discusses the rationale for and results of both intraoperative electron radiation therapy and intraoperative high dose rate brachytherapy when used in conjunction with surgical exploration and resection and external beam radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Both IORT methods evolved with similar philosophies as an attempt to achieve higher effective doses of irradiation while dose limiting structures are surgically displaced.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Mayo Medical School and Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
authors.forename: L L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Gunderson
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Willett
authors.forename: L B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Harrison
authors.forename: I A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Petersen
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Haddock
mesh_terms: D001918:Brachytherapy; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007432:Intraoperative Period; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D018787:Radiation Oncology / Q000639:trends*; D011878:Radiotherapy; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative