Liver Radioembolization with 90Y Microspheres (Medical Radiology Diagnostic Imaging)

This vital text for oncologists and radiotherapists provides an in-depth account of all aspects of radioembolization, a relatively novel technique based on the efficacy of radiotherapy for the treatment of liver tumors. Radioembolization combines embolization (intravascular deployment of particles – microspheres loaded with yttrium-90) and brachytherapy (local administration of radiotherapy), thereby allowing delivery of high doses of beta-radiation specifically to the tumoral area. Percutaneous tumor ablation techniques are now well established in the curative or pall- tive treatment of patients with primary or secondary malignant tumors of the liver. Radioembolization is a newly developed technique which takes advantage of the synergy of endovascular embolization and ofbrachytherapy in the treatment of cancer. It offers new perspectives for achieving local control of tumor growth with a low rate of complications. This book is the result of an intensive and successful collaboration between two le- ing European centers in interventional radiological oncology which have rapidly acquired extensive experience with this new technique over the past few years. I am very much indebted to the editors, Professor Bilbao and Professor M. Reiser, for their superb efforts in putting together the concept and outline of this volume, as wells as for the very short preparation time needed for its final publication. I thank them and the collaborators from their team, who actively participated in the compilation of the various chapters, for their excellent work. This outstanding volume covers all basic and clinical aspects of radioembolization of the liver very comprehensively. Thus it offers a complete practical guide to interventional radiologists wishing to become familiar with this highly interesting approach to the tre- ment of malignant liver tumors. It will undoubtedly be of great interest also to therapeutic radiologists, medical onco- gists and oncological surgeons, since it will enable them to better design the optimal tre- ment strategy for their patients. This book provides an in-depth account of all aspects of radioembolization, a relatively novel technique based on the efficacy of radiotherapy for the treatment of liver tumors. Radioembolization combines embolization (intravascular deployment of particles - microspheres loaded with yttrium-90) and brachytherapy (local administration of radiotherapy), thereby allowing delivery of high doses of beta-radiation specifically to the tumoral area in an attempt to overcome the problem of permanent radiation-induced damage to non-tumoral liver parenchyma. Performance of the procedure demands close familiarity with the hepatic vascular anatomy in order to ensure avoidance of vessels going to other territories. Furthermore, a detailed knowledge of liver function, tumor volume, and liver vascular shunting is needed in order to calculate the appropriate therapeutic dose in each particular case. All of these topics are addressed in depth in this book, and initial promising clinical results are presented Offers an account of various aspects of radioembolization, a relatively different technique based on the efficacy of radiotherapy for the treatment of liver tumors J.i. Bilbao And M.f. Reiser (eds.) ; With Contributions By A. Alonso-burgos ... [et Al.]. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.