New Techniques for Irradiating Early Stage Breast Cancer: Stereotactic Partial Breast Irradiation

Several improvements in breast cancer radiation delivery have been realized using new techniques over the past several decades. As an example, for early stage disease, there has been active investigation of partial breast irradiation (PBI) vs whole breast irradiation. Although still investigational, PBI reduces the treatment volumes, doses to organs at risk, and may improve cosmesis. Over the past 2 decades PBI has been delivered via interstitial brachytherapy, intracavitary brachytherapy, intraoperative radiation therapy, or 3-dimensional external beam radiation therapy. More recently, there has been growing evidence that supports stereotactic body radiation therapy as a safe and effective new treatment for early stage breast cancer. This article describes this new treatment opportunity and reviews the emerging data of stereotactic partial breast irradiation.