ABSTRACT
IX. Conclusions.....................................................................................................................361
Intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) was first begun in nonuniversity or private hospitals in the U.S. in 1983. Radiation oncology trainees from the established programs were the first to bring this technology to the community, and they not only continued treating the common disease sites, such as colon and pancreas, but also introduced the procedure as an adjuvant in head and neck cancer and elsewhere. The next community facilities to be involved were those where there is a strong clinical research background, which seems to be very important for introducing such a complex new modality.
