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What Is Y-90 Radioembolization?

Y-90 radioembolization is an image-guided liver-cancer treatment that delivers tiny microspheres containing the radioactive isotope yttrium-90 into arteries feeding a tumor. It is also called transarterial radioembolization, or TARE. The microspheres lodge in small tumor-feeding vessels and emit beta radiation over a limited distance, allowing a high radiation dose to be concentrated within the treated liver tissue. The treatment is used for selected hepatocellular carcinoma and liver-dominant metastatic tumors.

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What Is Y-90 Radioembolization?

Y-90 radioembolization is an image-guided liver-cancer treatment that delivers tiny microspheres containing the radioactive isotope yttrium-90 into arteries feeding a tumor. It is also called transarterial radioembolization, or TARE. The microspheres lodge in small tumor-feeding vessels and emit beta radiation over a limited distance, allowing a high radiation dose to be concentrated within the treated liver tissue. The treatment is used for selected hepatocellular carcinoma and liver-dominant metastatic tumors.

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Why Is Y-90 Radioembolization Performed?

Y-90 radioembolization is used when a liver tumor can be treated effectively through its arterial blood supply and a locoregional therapy fits the overall cancer plan. In hepatocellular carcinoma, it can be used for selected patients as radiation segmentectomy, as treatment for larger or multifocal disease, or as a bridge or downstaging therapy before transplantation. It can also be used for selected liver-dominant metastases from cancers such as colorectal or neuroendocrine tumors. Treatment decisions consider tumor burden, liver function, vascular anatomy, portal-vein status, prior therapy, extrahepatic disease, and the amount of healthy liver that would receive radiation.

How Is Y-90 Radioembolization Performed?

Before treatment, an interventional radiologist performs mapping angiography to identify the hepatic arteries supplying the tumor and vessels that could carry microspheres to nontarget organs. A nuclear-medicine test is commonly used to estimate how much activity could reach the lungs and to help plan a safe treatment dose. During the treatment session, a catheter is advanced into the selected hepatic artery and Y-90 microspheres are infused into the tumor-feeding circulation. Treatment can target a small segment, one liver lobe, or a larger territory depending on the disease and planned radiation dose.

What Is Recovery Like After Y-90 Radioembolization?

Most patients undergo a short observation period and return home the same day or after brief monitoring. Fatigue, abdominal discomfort, nausea, reduced appetite, or low-grade fever can occur during the first several days after treatment. Blood tests are used to monitor liver function, and follow-up computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, or nuclear imaging evaluates treatment response. Additional radioembolization, systemic therapy, transplantation, ablation, or surveillance depends on the cancer type and response.

What Are the Risks and Complications?

Possible complications include post-radioembolization fatigue or pain, liver-function deterioration, bleeding at the catheter site, and contrast-related reactions. Nontarget microspheres can cause radiation injury to the stomach, duodenum, gallbladder, pancreas, or other tissues. Rare but serious complications include radioembolization-induced liver disease and radiation pneumonitis. Careful mapping, dosimetry, and selective catheter placement are used to reduce radiation exposure to healthy liver and other organs.

Frequently Asked Questions About Y-90 Radioembolization

Is Y-90 radioembolization chemotherapy?

No. Y-90 microspheres deliver internal beta radiation through the hepatic arteries rather than delivering a chemotherapy drug.

What is radiation segmentectomy?

Radiation segmentectomy is a highly selective form of Y-90 radioembolization that delivers an ablative radiation dose to one or a small number of liver segments containing the tumor.

Why is mapping done before Y-90 treatment?

Mapping identifies tumor-feeding and nontarget arteries, evaluates potential lung exposure, and helps the treatment team plan microsphere delivery and radiation dose.

Can Y-90 radioembolization damage the liver?

Yes. Liver-function decline and radioembolization-induced liver disease are possible, especially when liver reserve is limited or a large volume of liver receives radiation.

References

MR-guided laser interstitial thermal therapy in the treatment of brain tumors and epilepsy. PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39167226/. Date Accessed September 11, 2026.

Complications following laser interstitial thermal therapy: a review. PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39413572/. Date Accessed September 11, 2026.

Contemporary Applications of Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy: A Comprehensive Systematic Review. PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39419170/. Date Accessed September 11, 2026.

Laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) for brain metastases: a systematic review and pooled analysis of Efficacy/Safety and the role of combination treatments. PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42265512/. Date Accessed September 11, 2026.

Outcomes after laser interstitial thermal ablation for temporal lobe epilepsy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37779130/. Date Accessed September 11, 2026.