Purpose of Technology

Brachytherapy involves temporary implantation of radioactive materials at the site of a tumor. For treatment of breast cancer, brachytherapy is generally performed after lumpectomy. The goal of this procedure, which may be performed as an adjunct to chemotherapy or whole-breast radiotherapy (WBRT), is to irradiate and destroy any residual tumor cells, while sparing normal breast tissue and preserving cosmetic appearance. A secondary goal of the use of brachytherapy for breast cancer is to make breast-conserving approaches feasible for more patients by providing treatment over a shorter time span than that required for conventional radiotherapy.

Questions addressed in this report include:

• Does brachytherapy provide effective long-term local tumor control and high rates of patient survival?
• How does the efficacy and safety of brachytherapy compare with that of WBRT, external bean radiation therapy (EBRT), or surgery?
• What complications are associated with brachytherapy for breast cancer?
• Have sufficient patient selection criteria for the use of brachytherapy for breast cancer been established?

These questions provide a framework for review and synthesis of the best available evidence, which is presented in this report, along with the Hayes Ratings for the technology. This report also provides background information about the condition being treated, a description of the technology, and the context for development of the technology. Other key elements addressed in the report include the regulatory status; applicable Medicare and commercial payer coverage policies; relevant ICD-9 and ICD-10 diagnosis codes; cost and cost effectiveness; credentialing; hospital length of stay; need for large case management; and ongoing and future clinical trials of the technology.

Posted in Directory Reports
This entry was posted on Friday, March 25th, 2011 at 12:00 pm.