Chapters authored
Yttrium-90 Selective Internal Radiation Therapy for Liver Tumors
The aim of this chapter to evaluate the effects of yttrium‐90 (Y‐90) radioembolization on primary and metastatic liver tumors with delivering implantable radioactive microspheres into branches of hepatic arteries that feed liver tumors to provide a high dose of targeted radiation to tumor tissue. Yttrium‐90 (Y‐90), a high‐energetic beta emitter, is the most preferred radionuclide, which is used to label microspheres. The principle of this therapeutic option depends on the different blood sources of healthy and malign cells in liver. In liver primary or metastatic tumor cells, most of the blood is supplied via the hepatic artery. Arterial supply of malignant liver tumors in contrast with mostly portal venous supply of normal hepatocytes as well as excess amount of arterial neovascularization in the tumor bed. Therefore, intra‐arterial radionuclide therapy can provide very high radiation exposure to tumor tissue, which is impossible to reach with external radiation therapy due to serious side effects. Y‐90 microsphere therapy is an efficient and safe locoregional therapeutic option for unresectable primary and metastatic liver tumors.
Part of the book: Radionuclide Treatments