The toxicity of liver directed yttrium-90 microspheres in primary and metastatic liver tumors.
BACKGROUND
Selective Internal Radiation (SIR) therapy with yttrium-90 microspheres has become an alternative approach to treat hepatic tumors.


METHODS
A single institution retrospective chart review was performed to assess the safety of SIR microspheres in twenty-one patients with hepatic malignancies. The yttrium-90 radiation dose was dependent upon the percentage of tumor involvement of the liver, with a dose modification (reduction) adjusted for macroaggregated albumin (MAA) shunted to the lung.


RESULTS
Twenty-one patients underwent twenty-five treatments with SIR microsphere therapy for primary and metastatic liver tumors. One mortality was secondary to fulminant hepatic failure after developing radiation hepatitis. Morbidities included radiation hepatitis (1) and peptic ulcer disease (6).


CONCLUSIONS
The application of SIR microspheres has been utilized for a variety of liver tumors. Although it has been a useful treatment option in selected patients, safety still remains an issue.
Neff
Ryan
R
Department of Surgery, Helen F. Graham Cancer Center at Christiana Care Health System, Newark, Delaware 19713, USA.
Abdel-Misih
Raafat
R
Khatri
Jamil
J
Dignazio
Michael
M
Garcia
Mark
M
Petrelli
Nicholas
N
Wilson
Patrick
P
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000556:secondary; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D005260:Female; D006499:Hepatic Artery / Q000528:radiation effects; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008297:Male; D008863:Microspheres; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual / Q000532:radiotherapy; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D015021:Yttrium Radioisotopes / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D015021:Yttrium Radioisotopes