Comprehensive Cancer Care Services

Services | Radiation Therapy| MammoSite®

Breast Brachytherapy (MammoSite)

Breast brachytherapy or MammoSite is an alternative to traditional EBRT for women who choose breast conservation rather than a mastectomy. Breast conservation therapy involves removing the tumor in a procedure called a lumpectomy, and is followed by radiation therapy to reduce the likelihood of recurrence. Traditional EBRT following a lumpectomy consists of five to six
weeks of radiation treatment, five days per week. With breast brachytherapy, a site-specific, prescribed dose of radiation is administered during a five-day course of therapy. Because of the relatively short duration of the treatment course, breast brachytherapy is an attractive option for women who choose lumpectomy over mastectomy, but do not wish to undergo 6 weeks of EBRT.

The MammoSite procedure for breast brachytherapy involves inserting a deflated balloon into the cavity where the tumor was removed. The balloon is connected to a catheter which is outside of the breast. The balloon is filled with saline, and both the balloon and the catheter remain in place during the time the woman is undergoing treatment. The radiation therapy is performed on an outpatient basis in a five-day, twice-per-day sequence of treatments. During each treatment, a radioactive source or “seed” is inserted into the catheter. The source is precisely positioned within the catheter delivering an exact dose while minimizing radiation exposure to the rest of the breast, skin, ribs, lungs, and heart. No source of radiation remains in the patient’s body between treatments or after the final procedure. The catheter and balloon are removed after the final procedure. Conventional brachytherapy for breast conservation requires the insertion of 14 to 20 catheters per procedure and is much more complex than the breast brachytherapy procedure described here. This treatment technique was pioneered right here in northwest Arkansas utilizing the latest treatment planning and delivery systems from Nucletron, the world leader in high dose rate brachytherapy.