Radioembolization is a treatment that has been applied for a few years with very positive results in cases of Hepatocarcinomas or large liver tumors that are not operable.
Today in this post we will deal with the following points:
• What is radioembolization?
• Use of radioembolization.
• The effects of radioemulsion
Radioembolization is a cancer treatment in which radioactive particles are delivered to a tumor through the bloodstream. The particles lodge in the tumor and emit radiation that kills cancer cells. Radioembolization is most often used in liver tumors. Radioembolization is sometimes used for patients who cannot undergo other treatments or to get the tumor to shrink so it can be operated on. Experts are still determining its ideal uses.
Index
What is radioembolization?
Radioembolization is done during a procedure called an angiogram. A doctor first inserts a catheter into an artery in the groin. Under X-ray guidance, the catheter is transferred to the blood vessels that feed the liver cancer. The doctor then injects fluid containing small radioactive particles into the correct artery (or arteries). The particles remain in the tumor, blocking the bloodstream of cancer cells, killing them and shrinking the tumor. In most cases, the healthy surrounding liver suffers minimal radiation damage after radioembolization. The radiation in the particles gradually disappears in a month. The remaining particles can remain safely forever.
The first radioembolization tests are performed to ensure safety and increase the likelihood of success. These include routine blood tests and an evaluation of blood flow, which includes an initial angiogram. The first angiogram serves as a function test, allowing a doctor to make sure that the arteries in the abdomen and liver are adequate for radioembolization.
Use of radioembolization
Radioembolization is used primarily for the treatment of liver cancer. The disease can take one of two forms:
• Cancer that has spread to the liver from a primary tumor elsewhere (such as colon or breast cancer)
• Cancer that first appears or primary in the liver (eg, Hepatocellular carcinoma)
Metastatic colorectal cancer to the liver and hepatocellular carcinoma are the most common tumors considered for the treatment of radioembolization. Radioembolization has also been used for other forms of cancer that affect the liver, such as:
• Cholangiocarcinoma
• Breast or lung cancer with liver metastases
• Neuroendocrine tumors, such as carcinoid tumors, spread to the liver.
• A type of sarcoma called a gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST)
Radioactive embolism is often used in coordination with more established cancer treatments, such as surgery and chemotherapy:
Radioembolization can be used in liver tumors that are too large for surgery to shrink and allow surgical removal.
Chemotherapy and radioembolization can be viewed in combination to maximize the killing of cancer cells.
Radioembolization can also be a treatment option for liver tumors that cannot be removed surgically and do not respond to chemotherapy. Through ongoing research, clinicians are still determining the best use for radioembolization.
Radioembolization is generally considered only as a treatment for tumors whose spread is limited to the liver. People with severe liver disease or abnormal blood flow between the liver and lungs are generally not eligible for radio family.
The effects of radiembolization
In several studies it was found that radioembolization delayed the progression of colorectal cancer after it had spread to the liver. Radioembolization has also been shown to reduce hepatocellular carcinomas.
Dr. Samantha Robson ( CRN: 0510146-5) is a nutritionist and website content reviewer related to her area of expertise. With a postgraduate degree in Nutrition from The University of Arizona, she is a specialist in Sports Nutrition from Oxford University and is also a member of the International Society of Sports Nutrition.
