The Contura brachytherapy applicator is a silicone balloon with five lumens in which a high-dose-rate brachytherapy source can traverse. Multilumen applicators, like the Contura, are used in accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) brachytherapy in instances where asymmetric dose distributions are desired; for example, when the applicator surface-to-skin thickness is small (< 7 mm). In the...

PURPOSE Accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) continues to increase in popularity. Up to 14% of patients treated with the MammoSite (MS) report some degree of chronic pain, which may be related to chest wall toxicity. Reports from several institutions using the multicatheter (MC) technique have not shown associated elevated chest wall toxicity. Additionally, a recent investigation has s...

Breast conservation therapy (BCT) is the procedure of choice for the management of the early stage breast cancer. However, its utilization has not been maximized because of logistics issues associated with the protracted treatment involved with the radiation treatment. Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation (APBI) is an approach that treats only the lumpectomy bed plus a 1-2 cm margin, rather t...