What is radioembolization?
Radioembolisation (or SIRT: Selective Internal Radiation Therapy) consists of injecting, via the artery, microspheres loaded with yttrium-90 (Y90) directly into the hepatic artery supplying a liver tumour. This radioelement emits beta radiation that destroys the tumour cells from within, while sparing the healthy liver.
Why choose this technique?
- Targeted local treatment of inoperable liver tumours
- Can treat large or diffuse tumours not suitable for ablation
- Documented efficacy in hepatocellular carcinoma and liver metastases (colorectal, neuroendocrine, etc.)
- May enable surgical conversion (pre-operative tumour reduction)
- Good tolerance compared with systemic chemotherapy
Who is this method for?
All indications are confirmed in an oncology multidisciplinary team meeting (hepatology, oncology, surgery). Radioembolisation is indicated for:
- Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) on cirrhosis, intermediate to advanced stages
- Large or numerous liver metastases (colorectal, neuroendocrine, breast, etc.)
- Patients not eligible for surgery, percutaneous ablation or TACE
The procedure: two steps
Work-up (preparatory session): diagnostic hepatic arteriography with injection of technetium-labelled macroaggregated albumin (MAA) to assess distribution and lung shunting. SPECT/CT scintigraphy within 24 hours.
Treatment (injection session): if the work-up is favourable, the Y90 microspheres are injected during a 1- to 2-day hospital stay.
Note: the two sessions are 2 to 4 weeks apart.
What is the recovery like?
- A mild, temporary post-embolisation syndrome is possible (fatigue, low-grade fever)
- Liver blood-test monitoring at 1, 3 and 6 months
- Follow-up imaging (MRI or PET scan) at 3 months to assess the response
- Rare complication: radiation pneumonitis if lung shunting is high (detected at work-up)
What to prepare before the consultation
- The report from your last oncology MDT meeting
- A recent liver CT or MRI scan
- Recent liver work-up and full blood count
- A PET scan if available
🏥 Rapid diagnosis of liver tumours: a dedicated pathway
Cochin Hospital has a rapid diagnostic pathway for liver tumours, in collaboration with the Hepatology Department of Professor Romain Coriat. If you have a liver abnormality detected on imaging, rapid, coordinated management is possible, including a complete diagnostic work-up, discussion at a hepatology MDT meeting and referral to the most appropriate treatment (surgery, interventional radiology, chemotherapy).
🔗 Hepatology Department — Cochin Hospital → Tel: 01 58 41 42 43🚨 PANCREAS FAST TRACK: rapid diagnosis
Cochin Hospital offers multidisciplinary expertise for the rapid diagnosis of pancreatic lesions. If you have clinical, radiological or biological signs suggesting a pancreatic lesion, you can be referred directly to our specialists:
🔪 Hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery
For surgical resection of tumours of the liver, pancreas and bile ducts. Multidisciplinary care with our interventional team.
chir-digestive-cochin.com →🔬 Gastroenterology & digestive oncology
Pancreatic cancer, neuroendocrine tumours: RENATEN reference centre. Liver tumours (HCC), colorectal cancer, IBD.
Pancreatic cancer → NET: RENATEN →📄 Patient information sheet
⚡ At a glance — key figures
Yttrium-90 radioembolization (TheraSphere® / SIR-Spheres®) delivers microscopic radioactive beads directly into the arteries feeding a liver tumour. The radiation acts from within the tumour, sparing the healthy liver — a form of internal, targeted radiotherapy delivered by the interventional radiologist.
| Criterion | Data |
|---|---|
| Indications | Hepatocellular carcinoma (including with portal vein thrombosis), liver metastases (notably colorectal), pre-surgical hypertrophy strategies |
| Principle | Beta-emitting Yttrium-90 microspheres, delivered intra-arterially into the tumour's blood supply |
| Personalised dosimetry | Treatment is planned patient by patient with a preparatory work-up and a simulation (scintigraphy) before delivery |
| Anaesthesia | Local anaesthesia, short hospital stay |
| Team | Joint procedure with Nuclear Medicine and a medical physicist |
| Cost | Covered by French national health insurance at Cochin AP-HP — no out-of-pocket fees |
The Y90 programme at Cochin AP-HP is one of the most active in France, combining Interventional Radiology and Nuclear Medicine with patient-level personalised dosimetry. Data validated by the team of Prof. Anthony Dohan, Department of Interventional Radiology, Cochin Hospital AP-HP, Université Paris Cité.
✅ Covered by French National Health Insurance. No additional fees.
❓ Frequently asked questions
✓ Why this page is trustworthy
Written by the Interventional Radiology team at Cochin Hospital AP-HP, Université Paris Cité. Medically reviewed by an interventional radiologist of the department. Last updated: August 2026.