Introduction: Radiotherapy is one of the three main cancer treatment methods, along with surgery and chemotherapy. Intraoperative radiotherapy is a special radiation technique that is performed during surgery. It allows us to precisely localize the tumor bed, which is irradiated with high doses, but at the same time minimally irradiate critical organs. Intraoperative radiotherapy can be used alone or in combination with conventional fractionated radiotherapy. Purpose: In the thesis, we will present the development and challenges in performing intraoperative radiotherapy over time, as well as the most common types of irradiation devices. We will focus on the types of localizations that are most often treated with this technique. From a technological point of view, we will be interested in which resources are used for this. The aim of the thesis is to learn about and sensibly present intraoperative radiotherapy and to determine the effectiveness of the treatment. Methods: In writing, we used a descriptive method with a systematic review of the literature. We used professional and scientific articles available online in English. The literature search took place from 10 December 2023 to 22 March 2024. We found a total of 844 articles, which were reviewed using the PRISMA method. Results: In the results, we discussed 18 articles, which we included in the systematic review of the literature. We focused on scientific articles in the field of breast treatment using the technique of intraoperative radiotherapy and compared its effectiveness with other treatment techniques. Discussion and conclusion: Through a systematic review of the literature, we found that we know several ways for the successful treatment of breast cancer. Intraoperative radiotherapy is a recognized treatment technique for local control of breast cancer, which allows for targeted radiation and reduces the need for mastectomy. Compared to conventional radiotherapy, intraoperative radiotherapy has fewer long-term side effects. Intraoperative radiotherapy as partial breast irradiation is also effective in controlling local disease, can improve the psychosocial well-being of patients and shorten the duration of treatment. However, the pre-operative selection of patients and precise treatment planning are essential in order to achieve the desired treatment effects.
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