Dr. Joseph P. Imperato

Most breast cancer patients today receive a high dose boost following initial radiation to the entire affected breast. Clinicians have established that image-guided radiation therapy is a proven way to enhance the ability to deliver higher doses of localized radiation to cancers, thereby increasing cure rates, and controlling the risk of complications. To do so, clinicians need to start by precisely defining the lumpectomy cavity to facilitate planning and delivery of an electron boost or for a partial breast irradiation. Presently, there are no established standard techniques to characterize the lumpectomy cavity. CT, mammography, 2D ultrasound and surgical clips have all been shown to assist in lumpectomy cavity delineation.

With Clarity™ system from Elekta, three-dimensional ground breaking ultrasound images enhances the capability to initially identify and delineate the lumpectomy cavity. It then localizes it daily without additional radiation exposure, while minimizing risk and discomfort.

Defining the Lumpectomy Cavity is Critical

Clinical definition of the lumpectomy cavity can be influenced by interpretive differences between physicians. Co-registered Clarity 3D ultrasound and CT images are obtained during simulation, giving additional certainty and consistency to target delineation during planning.

“CT alone often can’t differentiate postoperative changes from normal glandular tissue; it also results in an additional dose of ionizing radiation,” says Joseph P. Imperato, M.D., F.A.C.R., Medical Director at the Centre for Advanced Radiation Medicine at Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital (Lake Forest, Ill.). “Breast ultrasound is a routine diagnostic imaging aid in preoperative and postoperative settings for breast cancer. Ultrasound is an ideal modality for imaging structures such as anatomical cavities.”

Read the rest of our interview with Dr. Imperato at http://www.elekta.com/ewavelength.