MRI-Based Preoperative Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation

Selected patients will undergo a radiation planning procedure utilizing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Once this is completed, patients will receive five radiation treatments given every other day. After 28 days (four weeks), patients will have another MRI scan to compare tumor response to the radiation therapy. Following the MRI scan, roughly five to eight weeks later, patients will have a lumpectomy and possibly a sentinel lymph node biopsy. After surgery, tests will be performed on the tumor tissue to determine if genes expressed in the sample have changed. Following surgery, patients will receive chemotherapy and/or antihormone therapy at the discretion of the patient and physician.