Implant facilitates breast radiation therapy

A new breast implant allows more patients to safely receive accelerated partial-breast irradiation than balloon brachytherapy or 3D conformal radiation, a study finds. The Strut Adjusted Volume Implant (SAVI) enables maximized dose to the target tissue and minimized dose to normal tissue.

Women with small breasts and/or inadequate skin and chest wall spacing face unacceptable toxicity with available accelerated partial-breast irradiation. SAVI is a multichannel, single-entry brachytherapy device designed to overcome that limitation.

After a median follow-up of two years, the researchers found overall dosimetry was outstanding. The median percentage of target volume receiving 90% of the prescription dose was 95.9%. (Int J Radiation Oncology Biol Phys doi:10.1016/j.ijrobp.2010.02.018).

“After almost two years, the patients showed the treatment was well-tolerated without significant side effects. To date, the control rate of cancer is also very promising,” said Dr. Catheryn Yashar, an associate professor of radiation oncology at the University of California, San Diego.