The TARGIT-A (TARGeted Intraoperative radioTherapy) multicentre study of early breast cancer compared intraoperative radiotherapy with external radiotherapy. While the intraoperative radiotherapy was standardised, the external postoperative comparison treatment followed established routines in the participating treatment centres resulting in substantial variations in dosages and treatment durations. The uncertainties in the interpretation of the study results created by the design of the TARGIT-A study constitute substantial obstacles to the possible introduction of intraoperative radiotherapy for early breast cancer.