Published by Roberto Wenk.
Last updated date: June 15, 2016.
A type of radiation therapy used to treat liver cancer that is advanced or has come back.
Tiny beads that hold the radioisotope yttrium Y90 are injected into the hepatic artery (the main blood vessel that carries blood to the liver). The beads collect in the tumor and the yttrium Y90 gives off radiation. This destroys the blood vessels that the tumor needs to grow and kills the cancer cells.
Radioembolization is a type of selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT); also called intra-arterial brachytherapy.