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Fibrosis, Portal Hypertension, and Hepatic Volume Changes Induced by Intra-arterial Radiotherapy with 90Yttrium Microspheres

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Abstract

Purpose To identify changes in hepatic parenchymal volume, fibrosis, and induction of portal hypertension following radioembolization with glass microspheres for patients with metastatic disease to the liver. Results In our series of sequential bilobar (n = 17) treatments, a mean decrease in liver volume of 11.8% was noted. In this group, a mean splenic volume increase of 27.9% and portal vein diameter increase of 4.8% were noted. For patients receiving unilobar treatments (n = 15), mean ipsilateral lobar volume decrease of 8.9%, contralateral lobar hypertrophy of 21.2%, and a 5.4% increase in portal vein diameter were also noted. These findings were not associated with clinical toxicities. Conclusion90Yttrium radioembolization utilizing glass microspheres in patients with liver metastases results in changes of hepatic parenchymal volume and also induced findings suggestive of fibrosis and portal hypertension. Further studies assessing the long-term effects are warranted.

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Acknowledgments

Disclosure RS is a consultant for MDS Nordion. MFM receives grant support from MDS Nordion.

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Correspondence to R. Salem.

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Jakobs, T.F., Saleem, S., Atassi, B. et al. Fibrosis, Portal Hypertension, and Hepatic Volume Changes Induced by Intra-arterial Radiotherapy with 90Yttrium Microspheres. Dig Dis Sci 53, 2556–2563 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-007-0148-z

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