MammoSite Radiation Therapy System for Partial Breast Irradiation (PBI)

Partial Breast Irradiation (PBI) is a radiation therapy treatment method used for select breast cancer patients. For women who undergo a partial mastectomy or lumpectomy to remove a cancer from a breast, the standard of care is to deliver radiation treatment to the breast and tumor bed. The timing of the delivery of the radiation treatment, however, may vary depending upon whether the patient is advised to receive chemotherapy as part of her breast cancer treatment.

Historically, the typical method of radiation therapy for breast cancer is to treat the entire breast five days a week for approximately 30-33 treatments, or 6 to 6 1/2 weeks. Because the risk of recurrence of breast cancer is highest in the region of the removal of the original tumor, there has been an increased interest in evaluating the possible role of eliminating radiation treatment to the entire breast, thereby sparing breast tissue that is not at significant risk for the development of recurrence of cancer, and concentrate the cancer-killing effect of radiation in the area of the breast where the most significant risk of recurrence exists.

The role of Partial Breast Irradiation or PBI, therefore, has been investigated over the past many years on thousands of women. Of the three techniques used for PBI the most convenient and most conformal method is the MammoSite Radiation Therapy System (MammoSite RTS).

Special computerized treatment planning equipment and radiation equipment is required, as well as special training in order for this type of treatment to be performed. This procedure involves the placement of a balloon catheter into the tumor cavity by the breast surgeon after the malignant tumor has been removed. This is usually done as a separate procedure after removal of the tumor and sampling of the lymph nodes from the axilla (armpit).

Following placement of the balloon catheter, a CT scan of the breast is performed and the symmetry and orientation of the catheter is evaluated by the radiation oncologist. A sophisticated computerized treatment planning system is used for this evaluation. If all of the required catheter orientation parameters are within the tightly specified limits the radiation oncologist will approve the treatment plan and proceed with the MammoSite PBI procedure.

The actual radiation treatment is performed twice per day (morning and afternoon with a minimal six-hour interval) for five days. This involves a painless treatment by which a radioactive seed is passed through a channel in the MammoSite catheter to a carefully calculated position in the center of the inflated balloon. The amount of time that the radioactive seed remains in place ranges between approximately 4-10 minutes depending upon the activity of the radioactive source.

A sophisticated piece of medical equipment called a High Dose Rate applicator system (HDR) is used for this part of the procedure. Careful quality assurance checks are conducted before each treatment to make sure that the catheter has remained in the correct location and orientation. Following the fifth day, or tenth and final treatment, the balloon catheter is deflated and is easily removed from the breast. The insertion site is then bandaged and allowed to heal.

Currently the Carolina Radiation Medicine, Cancer Treatment Center at 801 W. H. Smith Boulevard in Greenville, North Carolina is the ONLY radiation oncology facility east of the triangle area that has the required technological equipment, and the trained radiation oncologists and staff to perform this procedure.

Thousands of women have safely and successfully undergone this FDA approved procedure. Imagine a complete course of radiation therapy delivered in one week as opposed to 6 1/2 weeks. The time saved in one's life and the proven effectiveness and excellent cosmetic results that is typical of this treatment clearly makes this an important treatment option for many women.

If you are a woman who has recently been diagnosed with breast cancer, and if your surgeon has recommended that you are a candidate for a lumpectomy or partial mastectomy (not mastectomy), then you may be a candidate to undergo this proven method of radiation treatment for your breast cancer.

If you think that you may be someone who would like to further evaluate this type of treatment for your breast cancer, please contact the Carolina Radiation Medicine, Cancer Treatment Center at 252-329-0025 and ask the staff for a consultation appointment visit with one of the specially trained radiation oncologists to be evaluated for the MammoSite Partial Breast Irradiation Brachytherapy Procedure.

To learn more about the MammoSite Radiation Therapy System and to view an animated video of the actual treatment procedure, click on the link below.

How MammoSite Works

(courtesy of Proxima Therapeutics)

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