High-dose-rate remote afterloaders for intraoperative radiation therapy

Intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) is a treatment option that directly irradiates a surgically exposed tumor or tumor bed while preventing radiation exposure of normal tissues. This article discusses the high-dose-rate intraoperative radiation therapy (HDR-IORT) technique by reviewing the roles of IORT team members, discussing needed equipment and supplies, describing quality assurance processes, explaining the HDR-IORT treatment delivery procedure, and reviewing the post-treatment phase.