title: Liver disease induced by radioembolization of liver tumors: description and possible risk factors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To the authors' knowledge, liver damage after liver radioembolization with yttrium90-labeled microspheres has never been studied specifically.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a complete set of data recorded prospectively among all patients without previous chronic liver disease treated by radioembolization at the authors' institution from September 2003 to July 2006, patterns of liver damage were identified and possible risk factors were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all, 20% of patients developed a distinct clinical picture that appeared 4 to 8 weeks after treatment and was characterized by jaundice and ascites. Veno-occlusive disease was the histologic hallmark observed in the most severe cases. This form of sinusoidal obstruction syndrome was not observed among patients who never received chemotherapy or in those in whom a single hepatic lobe was treated. Relevant to treatment planning, a possible risk factor was a higher treatment dose in relation to the targeted liver volume. A transjugular intrahepatic stent shunt improved liver function in 2 patients with impending liver failure, although 1 of them eventually died from it.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Radioembolization of liver tumors, particularly after antineoplastic chemotherapy, may result in an uncommon but potentially life-threatening form of hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome that presents clinically with jaundice and ascites.
authors.affiliation: Liver Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, University Clinic and CIBERHD, Pamplona, Spain. bsangro@unav.es
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sangro
authors.forename: Belen
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gil-Alzugaray
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.forename: Iosu
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sola
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martinez-Cuesta
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Viudez
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chopitea
authors.forename: Mercedes
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iñarrairaegui
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Arbizu
authors.forename: Jose I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Bilbao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006504:Hepatic Veno-Occlusive Disease / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007565:Jaundice / Q000209:etiology; D008099:Liver / Q000528:radiation effects*; D017093:Liver Failure / Q000209:etiology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008297:Male; D008863:Microspheres; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D019168:Portasystemic Shunt, Transjugular Intrahepatic; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012307:Risk Factors; D015021:Yttrium Radioisotopes / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D015021:Yttrium Radioisotopes