Intraoperative radiotherapy of the breast for early-stage breast cancer: ready for primetime

The findings of the TARGIT A and ELIOT prospective, randomized controlled trials provide compelling data regarding the efficacy and safety of single fraction intraoperative radiotherapy as an alternative to standard postoperative radiotherapy in the management of early-stage breast cancer. This editorial summarizes the findings of both studies and discusses the importance of patient selection in identifying potential candidates for intraoperative radiotherapy.