Yttrium-90 Microspheres Therapy

Overview

Yttrium-90 Microspheres Therapy is a targeted treatment used primarily for liver cancer. It uses tiny radioactive beads, called microspheres, that carry Yttrium-90, a radioactive element, directly into the blood vessels feeding a liver tumor. These microspheres emit radiation to destroy cancer cells while sparing most of the healthy liver tissue. This form of therapy is also known as Yttrium-90 radioembolization or Y90 treatment.

It’s a minimally invasive procedure and offers hope to patients who cannot undergo surgery or who have tumors that haven’t responded well to chemotherapy.

Why Yttrium-90 Microspheres Therapy Treatment is Required?

Helps treat inoperable liver tumors, especially hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and liver metastases from colorectal cancer.

Used when other treatments like chemotherapy or surgery are not suitable or have failed.

Offers a focused approach to minimize damage to healthy liver tissue.

Can be used before liver transplantation or surgery to reduce tumor size.

Provides relief in cases where tumors cause pain or other symptoms.

Key Advantages of Yttrium-90 Microspheres Therapy Treatment

Targeted treatment with minimal impact on healthy tissues.

Minimally invasive – done through a small catheter inserted into an artery.

Often requires no hospital stay or just 1 day of observation.

Short half-life of Yttrium-90 (~64 hours), meaning radiation leaves the body quickly.

Can improve quality of life and reduce symptoms.

Shown to increase survival rates after Y90 treatment in selected patients.

Allows repeated treatments depending on tumor response and liver function.

How Should You Prepare Yourself Before Yttrium-90 Microspheres Therapy Treatment

Your doctor may order blood tests, CT scans or an angiogram to map liver blood vessels.

You may need to stop certain medications such as blood thinners.

Fasting may be required for a few hours before the procedure.

You will need to arrange transportation as you might be sedated.

Inform your doctor about any allergies, implants or pregnancy.

How Yttrium-90 Microspheres Therapy Treatment is Performed?

A small catheter is inserted into an artery in your groin or wrist.

Using imaging guidance, the catheter is moved to the liver’s artery.

Yttrium-90 microspheres are slowly injected, flowing into the tumor’s blood supply.

The radiation from the microspheres damages cancer cells from within.

The procedure takes around 1 to 2 hours and you may be monitored afterward.

What You Can Expect Before, During and After Procedure?

1. Before the Procedure:

Pre-procedure imaging and planning tests.

Fasting for a few hours.

Sedation or mild anesthesia may be given.

2. During the Procedure:

Procedure is done in an interventional radiology suite.

You will be awake but relaxed.

Little to no pain during the procedure.

3. After the Procedure:

Monitoring for a few hours.

Possible mild fatigue, nausea, or low-grade fever.

Most patients return home the same or next day.

Follow-up scans done in a few weeks to check tumor response.

Risk and Potential Complications

Mild fatigue or flu-like symptoms (common but temporary).

Nausea or abdominal pain for a few days.

Rarely, radiation-induced liver disease (RILD).

Ulcers or damage if microspheres reach non-target organs.

Low blood counts or slight liver function changes.

Doctors monitor you closely to avoid or manage complications.

Results/Outcomes

Many patients see tumor shrinkage or stabilization.

May extend survival time, especially when other options are limited.

Improves symptoms and may allow for additional treatments.

Several Y90 treatment success stories show improved quality of life post-treatment.

Results vary based on overall health, liver function and cancer type.