What is the Y-90 procedure?

Radioembolization is a minimally invasive procedure that combines embolization and radiation therapy to treat liver cancer. Tiny glass or resin beads filled with the radioactive isotope yttrium Y-90 are placed inside the blood vessels that feed a tumor.

Why is yttrium-90 used?

Yttrium-90 is a radioactive substance. It is used in radiation therapy (radiotherapy) to treat cancer. Why do I need this treatment? Your doctors have found a tumor (or tumors) in your liver.

Why do we use 90Y microspheres?

90Y microspheres are injected into the arterial supply of the liver, where they preferentially flow into hypervascularized tumor areas, resulting in a significantly higher irradiation of tumor tissue than of normal liver parenchyma (5).

How many times can you get Y-90?

Patients are typically limited to two treatments, although doctors can take another approach — only with concentrated chemotherapy and larger particles — once radiation limits are reached. “He could potentially have that multiple times to prolong his survival and keep him doing well,” Dr. McBride says.

What happens after Y90?

You may feel more tired than usual and tire more easily for up to 3 weeks after the procedure. You may feel sick to your stomach and not feel like eating for several days. You will be given a prescription for medicine to control the nausea. You may lose some weight before you feel like eating again.

What type of radiation is Y90?

Y90 refers to the radioactive isotope yttrium90, which is inserted into tiny particles and used to deliver radiation directly to tumors via long, thin tubes called catheters.

Is the Y-90 palliative?

Y-90 radioembolisation is a palliative treatment for primary liver lesions and liver metastatic disease which uses ionising radiation to shrink tumours. It is generally used to relieve the symptoms of liver tumours rather than to cure the underlying condition.

How much does Y-90 treatment cost?

Cost of the procedures and hospital admission was obtained from the hospital chargemaster. The primary outcome was the overall difference in cost between Y-90 vs TACE for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma at Einstein Medical Center. The price of a Y-90 ranges from $30,000 to $35,000 with an average of $32,500.

How many times can you do Y90?

Are you radioactive after Y90 treatment?

The Y90 has a half-life of 64.2 hours. This means that it will be non-radioactive in about a month’s time.

What are the 90 y microspheres used for?

(90)Y microspheres can be used in downstaging large tumors to bring within transplantable criteria, in patients with portal venous thrombosis due to tumor invasion and as palliative therapy. There are two available devices for (90)Y administration; TheraSphere® (glass based) and SIR-Spheres® (resin based).

What are yttrium 90 microspheres for the treatment of?

Yttrium 90 microspheres for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma Yttrium-90 microspheres are radioactive particles which are increasingly being employed for treating patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The procedure is called radioembolization.

Which is rare complication of 90 y microsphere treatment?

Radiation-induced liver disease is a rare complication of 90 Y microsphere treatment. It results in various degrees of hepatic decompensation and is indistinguishable from hepatic veno-occlusive disease. Radiation-induced liver disease is manifested clinically by the development of anicteric ascites.

Can a 90 y microsphere cause tumor regression?

Transarterial administration of 90 Y-bearing microspheres in humans was described in the early literature as feasible (, 7 –, 9 ), and, somewhat later, as capable of inducing tumor regression (, 10 ).