Skip to main content
Log in

Radioembolization with 90Y Microspheres: Angiographic and Technical Considerations

  • Review/State of the Art
  • Published:
CardioVascular and Interventional Radiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The anatomy of the mesenteric system and the hepatic arterial bed has been demonstrated to have a high degree of variation. This is important when considering pre-surgical planning, catheterization, and trans-arterial hepatic therapies. Although anatomical variants have been well described, the characterization and understanding of regional hepatic perfusion in the context of radioembolization have not been studied with great depth. The purpose of this review is to provide a thorough discussion and detailed presentation of the angiographic and technical aspects of radioembolization. Normal vascular anatomy, commonly encountered variants, and factors involved in changes to regional perfusion in the presence of liver tumors are discussed. Furthermore, the principles described here apply to all liver-directed transarterial therapies.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15
Fig. 16
Fig. 17
Fig. 18
Fig. 19
Fig. 20
Fig. 21
Fig. 22
Fig. 23
Fig. 24
Fig. 25
Fig. 26
Fig. 27

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. El-Serag HB (2002) Hepatocellular carcinoma and hepatitis C in the United States. Hepatology 36:S74–S83

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Jemal A, Murray T, Ward E, et al. (2005) Cancer statistics, 2005. CA Cancer J Clin 55:10–30

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Buscarini L, Buscarini E, Di Stasi M, Vallisa D, Quaretti P, Rocca A (2001) Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation of small hepatocellular carcinoma: long-term results. Eur Radiol 11:914–921

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Seifert JK, Cozzi PJ, Morris DL (1998) Cryotherapy for neuroendocrine liver metastases. Semin Surg Oncol 14:175–183

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Clark TW, Soulen MC (2002) Chemical ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma. J Vasc Interv Radiol 13:S245–S252

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Lo CM, Ngan H, Tso WK, et al. (2002) Randomized controlled trial of transarterial lipiodol chemoembolization for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatology 35:1164–1171

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Llovet JM, Real MI, Montana X, et al. (2002) Arterial embolisation or chemoembolisation versus symptomatic treatment in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: a randomised controlled trial. Lancet 359:1734–1739

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Brown KT, Nevins AB, Getrajdman GI, et al. (1998) Particle embolization for hepatocellular carcinoma. J Vasc Interv Radiol 9:822–828

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. MDS Nordion (2004) TheraSphere yttrium-90 microspheres package insert. MDS Nordion, Kanata, Canada

  10. SIRTeX Medical (2004) SIR-Spheres yttrium-90 microspheres package insert, SIRTeX Medical, Lane Cove, Australia

  11. Lawrence TS, Robertson JM, Anscher MS, Jirtle RL, Ensminger WD, Fajardo LF (1995) Hepatic toxicity resulting from cancer treatment. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 31:1237–1248

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Ingold JA, Reed GB, Kaplan HS, Bagshaw MA (1965) Radiation hepatitis. Am J Roentgenol Radium Ther Nucl Med 93:200–208

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Stubbs RS, Cannan RJ, Mitchell AW (2001) Selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) with 90-yttrium microspheres for extensive colorectal liver metastases. Hepatogastroenterology 48:333–337

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Geschwind JF, Salem R, Carr BI, et al. (2004) Yttrium-90 microspheres for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Gastroenterology 127:S194–S205

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Carr BI (2004) Hepatic arterial 90-yttrium glass microspheres (Therasphere) for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: interim safety and survival data on 65 patients. Liver Transpl 10:S107–S110

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Gray B, Van Hazel G, Hope M, et al. (2001) Randomised trial of SIR-Spheres plus chemotherapy vs. chemotherapy alone for treating patients with liver metastases from primary large bowel cancer. Ann Oncol 12:1711–1720

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Van Hazel G, Blackwell A, Anderson J, et al. (2004) Randomised phase 2 trial of SIR-Spheres plus fluorouracil/leucovorin chemotherapy versus fluorouracil/leucovorin chemotherapy alone in advanced colorectal cancer. J Surg Oncol 88:78–85

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Salem R, Lewandowski RJ, Atassi B, et al. (2005) Treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma with use of 90Y microspheres (TheraSphere): safety, tumor response, and survival. J Vasc Interv Radiol 16:1627–1639

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Touzios JG, Kiely JM, Pitt SC, et al. (2005) Neuroendocrine hepatic metastases: Does aggressive management improve survival? Ann Surg 241:776–783, discussion 783–775

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Romano W (2005) Personal communication. Interventional Radiology, Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, MI

    Google Scholar 

  21. Salem R, Thurston KG (2006) Radioembolization with 90yttrium microspheres: a state-of-the-art brachytherapy treatment for primary and secondary liver malignancies: Part 1: Technical and methodologic considerations. J Vasc Interv Radiol 17:1251–1278

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Goin JE, Salem R, Carr BI, et al. (2005) Treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma with intrahepatic yttrium 90 microspheres: factors associated with liver toxicities. J Vasc Interv Radiol 16:205–213

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Goin JE, Salem R, Carr BI, et al. (2005) Treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma with intrahepatic yttrium 90 microspheres: a risk-stratification analysis. J Vasc Interv Radiol 16:195–203

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Rhee TK, Omary RA, Gates V, et al. (2005) The effect of catheter-directed ct angiography on yttrium-90 radioembolization treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. J Vasc Interv Radiol 16:1085–1091

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Gray BN (2003) Use of SIR-Spheres in patients with impaired liver function. Safety Notice. Sirtex Medical, Lane Cove, Australia

    Google Scholar 

  26. Salem R, Lewandowski R, Roberts C, et al. (2004) Use of yttrium-90 glass microspheres (TheraSphere) for the treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with portal vein thrombosis. J Vasc Interv Radiol 15:335–345

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Murthy R, Xiong H, Nunez R, et al. (2005) Yttrium 90 resin microspheres for the treatment of unresectable colorectal hepatic metastases after failure of multiple chemotherapy regimens: preliminary results. J Vasc Interv Radiol 16:937–945

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Gray BN, Burton MA, Kelleher D, Klemp P, Matz L (1990) Tolerance of the liver to the effects of yttrium-90 radiation. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 18:619–623

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Murthy R, Nunez R, Szklaruk J, et al. (2005) Yttrium-90 microsphere therapy for hepatic malignancy: devices, indications, technical considerations, and potential complications. Radiographics 25 (Suppl 1):S41–S55

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Stubbs RS, Cannan RJ, Mitchell AW (2001) Selective internal radiation therapy with 90yttrium microspheres for extensive colorectal liver metastases. J Gastrointest Surg 5:294–302

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Liu DM, Salem R, Bui JT, et al. (2005) Angiographic considerations in patients undergoing liver-directed therapy. J Vasc Interv Radiol 16:911–935

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Covey AM, Brody LA, Maluccio MA, Getrajdman GI, Brown KT (2002) Variant hepatic arterial anatomy revisited: digital subtraction angiography performed in 600 patients. Radiology 224:542–547

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Cosin O, Bilbao JI, Alvarez S, de Luis E, Alonso A, Martinez-Cuesta A (2007) Right gastric artery embolization prior to treatment with yttrium-90 microspheres. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol 30:98–103

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Uflacker R, Feldman CJ (1997) Atlas of vascular anatomy: an angiographic approach. Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore

    Google Scholar 

  35. Yip D, Allen R, Ashton C, Jain S (2004) Radiation-induced ulceration of the stomach secondary to hepatic embolization with radioactive yttrium microspheres in the treatment of metastatic colon cancer. J Gastroenterol Hepatol 19:347–349

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Goin JE, Dancey JE, Hermann GA, Sickles CJ, Roberts CA, MacDonald JS (2003) Treatment of unresectable metastatic colorectal carcinoma to the liver with intrahepatic Y-90 microspheres: a dose-ranging study. World J Nucl Med 2:216–225

    Google Scholar 

  37. Raju GS, Bardhan KD, Royston C, Beresford J (1999) Giant gastric ulcer: its natural history and outcome in the H2RA era. Am J Gastroenterol 94:3478–3486

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Eaden JA, Roberts-Thomson IC (2001) Gastrointestinal: giant gastric ulcers. J Gastroenterol Hepatol 16:573

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Arora R, Soulen MC, Haskal ZJ (1999) Cutaneous complications of hepatic chemoembolization via extrahepatic collaterals. J Vasc Interv Radiol 10:1351–1356

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Kadir S, Brothers MF (1991) Atlas of normal and variant angiographic anatomy. 1st ed. Saunders, Philadelphia

    Google Scholar 

  41. Lewandowski R, Salem R (2004) Incidence of radiation cholecystitis in patients receiving Y-90 treatment for unresectable liver malignancies. J Vasc Interv Radiol 15:S162

    Google Scholar 

  42. Funaki B (2002) Endovascular intervention for the treatment of acute arterial gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Gastroenterol Clin North Am 31:701–713

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Finch IJ (1992) Use of the Palmaz stent in ostial celiac artery stenosis. J Vasc Interv Radiol 3:633–635, discussion 636–637

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Glickerman DJ, Hathaway PB, Hatsukami T, Daly CP, Althaus S, Kohler TR (1997) Transluminal treatment of a celiac artery pseudoaneurysm with a stent graft occlusion device. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol 20:466–469

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Gotsman I, Verstandig A (2001) Intravascular stent implantation of the celiac artery in the treatment of chronic mesenteric ischemia. J Clin Gastroenterol 32:164–166

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Razavi M, Chung HH (2004) Endovascular management of chronic mesenteric ischemia. Tech Vasc Interv Radiol 7:155–159

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Kim HC, Chung JW, Lee W, Jae HJ, Park JH (2005) Recognizing extrahepatic collateral vessels that supply hepatocellular carcinoma to avoid complications of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization. Radiographics 25 (Suppl 1):S25–S39

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Matsumoto AH, Selby JB Jr, Tegtmeyer CJ, et al. (1994) Recent development of rigors during infusion of urokinase: Is it related to an endotoxin? J Vasc Interv Radiol 5:433–438

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. Salem R, Thurston KG, Carr BI, Goin JE, Geschwind JF (2002) Yttrium-90 microspheres: radiation therapy for unresectable liver cancer. J Vasc Interv Radiol 13:S223–S229

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Riad Salem.

Additional information

R.S. and J.-F.G. are consultants for MDS Nordion. R.M., D.L., L.B., and J.I.B. are proctors for Sirtex Medical. A.S.K. has received honoraria from MDS Nordion and Sirtex Medical. This work was not funded.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lewandowski, R.J., Sato, K.T., Atassi, B. et al. Radioembolization with 90Y Microspheres: Angiographic and Technical Considerations. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol 30, 571–592 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00270-007-9064-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00270-007-9064-z

Keywords

Navigation