📖 What is Y90 radioembolization?
Y90 radioembolization (also called SIRT — Selective Internal Radiation Therapy) uses tiny glass or resin microspheres loaded with the radioactive isotope yttrium-90 to deliver targeted radiation directly to liver tumours via their arterial blood supply.
Unlike external beam radiotherapy, Y90 delivers radiation from inside the tumour — sparing the surrounding liver parenchyma. It combines the effects of embolization (reducing blood supply) and brachytherapy (internal irradiation) in a single procedure. Two products are available: TheraSphere® (glass microspheres, Boston Scientific) and SIR-Spheres® (resin microspheres, Sirtex).
🔬 How does the procedure work?
📋 2-stage procedure
Angiography + injection of macro-aggregated albumin labelled with Tc-99m (MAA) to simulate Y90 distribution. SPECT-CT 3D imaging calculates the lung shunt fraction and predicts dosimetry. Hepatic arterial anatomy is mapped and optimised.
Super-selective arterial catheterisation of tumour-feeding arteries under Nexaris Angio-CT guidance. Y90 microspheres injected. Procedure duration: 1–2 hours. Local anaesthesia. 2–4h post-procedure monitoring. Discharge same day or next morning.
🔗 Related pages
🇫🇷 French version: y90-radioembolisation-definition.html