Y-90 Treatment for Liver Cancer
Y-90 Treatment for Liver Cancer
Yttrium-90 (Y-90) radioembolization is a highly targeted, minimally invasive procedure that uses localized, high doses of radiation to treat liver tumors effectively.
What Is Y-90?
Y-90 radioembolization involves delivering yttrium-90, a radioactive substance, directly to the liver tumor’s blood supply. It delivers internal radiation to the tumor while sparing healthy tissue.
How it works:
- Tiny glass beads (microspheres) containing yttrium-90 are injected into the tumor's blood vessels.
- These beads emit radiation to suppress tumor growth.
- Over time, the tumor shrinks or dies, and healthy liver tissue remains unaffected.
Y-90 can be used to:
- Slow or stop cancer progression
- Relieve cancer-related symptoms
- Shrink tumors to make liver surgery or transplantation possible
Benefits of Y-90
- Preserves healthy liver tissue by avoiding large resections
- Minimally invasive with a faster recovery than surgery
- Effective for patients ineligible for liver transplant or surgery
- Can shrink tumors to make patients eligible for liver transplants or other surgical treatments
- Fewer side effects compared to systemic treatments like chemotherapy
Am I a Candidate for Y-90?
You may be a candidate for Y-90 if:
- You have liver cancer or cancer that has spread to the liver
- Surgery or other treatments are not an option due to:
- Location, size or number of tumors
- Overall health concerns
What to Expect During the Procedure
Y-90 treatment occurs in two phases: mapping and treatment
Phase one: mapping (preparation)
- Goal: Identify the blood vessels supplying the liver tumor and isolate the vessels that are not.
- Procedure:
- An angiogram is performed: A catheter (thin tube) is inserted into a blood vessel in the groin or wrist.
- Blood vessels feeding the tumor are identified and others are blocked with tiny coils to protect healthy tissue.
- A harmless radioactive tracer is injected to assess treatment strength and precision.
- Duration: about two hours
- Sedation: Patients are given moderate sedation to remain relaxed but awake.
Phase two: treatment
- Procedure:
- Similar to mapping, another angiogram is performed.
- Yttrium-90 microspheres are injected into the tumor's blood supply.
- The radiation directly targets and destroys cancer cells from the inside.
- Duration: about one hour
- Sedation: Conscious sedation—patients are awake but drowsy and relaxed.
After the Procedure
- Patients are typically released the same day.
- Recovery is quick, with most patients walking unassisted within a few hours.
- Full recovery is expected in about three weeks.
Common Side Effects:
- Fatigue
- Mild abdominal pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Gastrointestinal ulcers (rare)
Alternate Treatment Options
In addition to Y-90, other treatments for liver tumors include:
Medical Management
- Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE): combines chemotherapy with embolization to block blood flow
- Radiofrequency ablation (RFA): uses heat to destroy smaller, localized tumors, while Y-90 is better for larger or multiple tumors
- Percutaneous ablation
Surgical Interventions
- Partial liver resection: removes tumors but may not be an option for some patients
- Liver transplant
Frequently Asked Questions
What is liver cancer?
Liver cancer is a disease in which cancerous cells form in the liver. These cells multiply and can spread to other areas of the body.
Is Y-90 painful?
The procedure is generally painless. Some patients may experience:
- A brief warm sensation during the mapping contrast injection
- Minor discomfort or pain in the liver area after the treatment