Update on intraoperative radiotherapy for early-stage breast cancer

Intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) is a practical and feasible alternative or an adjunct to whole-breast external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) for adjuvant treatment of breast cancer. A large number of experiments have proved IORT is non-inferior for treating early breast cancer due to its advantages, including precise radiotherapy, protection of healthy tissues and organs and sound cosmetic effects. IORT can use both electron beams and X-rays. Some aspects of the clinical use of IORT are still controversial, and extensive trails are ongoing. In this article, we review the published evidence and some ongoing clinical practice to introduce IORT in breast cancer treatment.