Figure 1. During the lumpectomy procedure or shortly thereafter, the deflated MammoSite balloon is placed inside the tumor resection cavity. Once in place, the balloon is inflated with saline to fill the cavity and remains inflated for the entire time that the patient is receiving radiation therapy. The patient returns to the hospital or clinic for one to five days of treatment on an outpatient basis where a radioactive "seed" is inserted into the inflated balloon. No source of radiation remains in the patient's body between treatments or after the final procedure. The "seed" delivers the prescribed does of internal radiation directly to the site where recurrence is most likely to occur, minimizing exposure to healthy tissue in the breast, skin, ribs, lungs, and heart.
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Figure 2. Illustration of MammoSite balloon inside tumor resection cavity.
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Figure 3. MammoSite equipment diagram with labels.
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Figure 4. Ultrasound-guided breast brachytherapy procedure
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Figure 5. Ultrasound-guided breast brachytherapy procedure
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Figure 6. Ultrasound-guided breast brachytherapy procedure
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Figure 7. Ultrasound-guided breast brachytherapy procedure
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Figure 8. Ultrasound-guided breast brachytherapy procedure
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