Intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) of the breast is the administration of a single fraction of radiation to the tumor bed while shielding low risk and uninvolved tissues from the effects of radiation. The TARGIT A and ELIOT trials demonstrate efficacy of IORT when administered at the time of lumpectomy to post‐menopausal women with low to intermediate grade, lymph node negative, invasive ductal carcinoma, consistent with international guidelines defining suitable candidates for accelerated partial breast radiotherapy. J. Surg. Oncol. 2014 110:68–74. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.