Intraoperative radiation therapy

Intraoperative radiation therapy
Other namesIORT
ICD-9-CM92.4

Intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) is radiation therapy that is administered during surgery directly in the operating room (hence intraoperative).

Usually therapeutic levels of radiation are delivered to the tumor bed while the area is exposed during surgery. IORT is typically a component in the multidisciplinary treatment of locally advanced and recurrent cancer, in combination with external beam radiation, surgery, and chemotherapy. As a growing trend in recent years, IORT can also be used in earlier stage cancers such as prostate and breast cancer.