The Comprehensive Breast Health Center at Little Company of Mary Hospital in Evergreen Park, IL, has used Axxent electronic brachytherapy system from Xoft of Sunnyvale, CA, to perform a novel cancer treatment called intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT).
IORT is designed to deliver a complete dose of radiation therapy in the operating room at the time of surgery, such as a lumpectomy, for patients with early-stage breast cancer. The hospital's first treatment was performed on a breast cancer patient as part of a clinical trial at the hospital.
Xoft's Axxent system, which has received clearance by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), uses a miniaturized x-ray source for localized and targeted radiation treatment. Electronic brachytherapy is designed to minimize radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissue and it enables physicians to remain in the operating room with the patient.
Related Reading
Rhode Island Hospital uses Axxent for endometrial cancer, September 29, 2008
Xoft debuts mobile brachytherapy vehicles, September 18, 2008
Xoft launches electronic brachytherapy registry, June 26, 2008
Xoft taps new CMO, June 18, 2008
FDA clears Xoft's new applicators, May 21, 2008
Copyright © 2008 AuntMinnie.com
