Published Study Highlights Advantages of SAVI Breast Cancer Radiation Therapy

ALISO VIEJO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The SAVI™ applicator for breast brachytherapy is a safe, effective therapy for breast cancer, according to a newly published study in a peer-reviewed journal. The study showed that SAVI’s unique design provides fewer complications, excellent cosmetic results, outstanding dosimetry and increases the number of women eligible for breast brachytherapy.

The study was conducted by researchers at the Moores UCSD Cancer Center and published in the October-December 2009 issue of the prestigious Brachytherapy journal.

Researchers found that radiation exposure for healthy tissue was “exceedingly low” because of the multi-catheter design of SAVI. No serious complications were reported, including no symptomatic persistent seromas, no persistent edema or breast pain. There was one case of asymptomatic fat necrosis reported at the 18-month follow-up mammogram. There were no local recurrences of cancer.

The study was a retrospective review of the first 30 patients to receive treatment with SAVI at the Moores UCSD Cancer Center. The median follow-up for the subjects was 12 months.

“Great progress has been made in breast brachytherapy technology,” said lead author Catheryn Yashar, M.D. “With SAVI, we seem to have a device that overcomes some of the most significant drawbacks of other methods. The device’s versatility means that many more women can take advantage of the convenience of breast brachytherapy, and be confident in its safety and results.”

source: Business Wire