Why is yttrium-90 used in radiotherapy?

Why is yttrium-90 used in radiotherapy?

In Y-90 radiotherapy, millions of tiny radioactive beads are injected directly into the arteries that supply blood to your tumor. These beads will stay in the blood vessels around your tumor(s). This allows very strong radiation to reach the tumors directly.

What are the benefits of yttrium-90?

Benefits of Yttrium-90 Therapy Painless for most people. Safe and well-tolerated. Able to deliver a higher radiation dose than external radiation therapy or radiation given outside the body. Helpful in preserving healthy tissue, as the radiation releases close to the tumor.

How much does Y-90 cost?

The price of a Y-90 ranges from $30,000 to $35,000 with an average of $32,500.

How long does Y-90 last?

Because radioactive microspheres are delivered through the hepatic artery, they reach the tumor very directly while sparing most of the healthy liver tissue. The radiation from yttrium-90 continually decreases over a two-week period and disappears after 30 days.

How many times can you get Y90?

Patients are typically limited to two treatments, although doctors can take another approach — only with concentrated chemotherapy and larger particles — once radiation limits are reached. “He could potentially have that multiple times to prolong his survival and keep him doing well,” Dr. McBride says.

What happens after Y90?

You may feel more tired than usual and tire more easily for up to 3 weeks after the procedure. You may feel sick to your stomach and not feel like eating for several days. You will be given a prescription for medicine to control the nausea. You may lose some weight before you feel like eating again.

How many times can you get y90?

What happens after y90?

What is the half-life of yttrium 90?

The physical half-life of Y-90 is 64.2 h.

Is the Y90 safe?

Y90 is a relatively new, safe, and highly successful treatment for cancer in the liver that targets tumors with a high dose of radiation without affecting other, healthy parts of the body.

What element breaks down into yttrium-90?

Strontium- 90 decays to yttrium-90, which in turn decays to stable zirconium. The isotopes of strontium and yttrium emit beta particles as they decay. The release of radiation during this decay process causes concern about the safety of strontium and all other radioactive substances.

Where does yttrium-90 come from?

Yttrium-90 is produced by the nuclear decay of strontium-90 which has a half-life of nearly 29 years and is a fission product of uranium used in nuclear reactors. As the strontium-90 decays, chemical high-purity separation is used to isolate the yttrium-90 before precipitation.

Where does yttrium 90 Go in the body?

The 90 Y is delivered in microspheres into the hepatic artery and embolizes the microvessels and capillaries of the liver. Careful preintervention planning is required.

Is it safe to use yttrium-90 for hepatic malignancies?

Limited therapeutic options are available for hepatic malignancies. Image guided targeted therapies have established their role in management of primary and secondary hepatic malignancies. Radioembolization with yttrium-90 ( 90 Y) microspheres is safe and efficacious for treatment of hepatic malignancies.

When was yttrium 90 approved by the FDA?

In early 2002, 90 Y-ibritumomab tiuxetan became the first radio-conjugated antibody therapeutic for cancer approved by the FDA. Since its approval, numerous patients who have received 90 Y-ibritumomab tiuxetan after becoming refractory to a rituximab-based regimen have achieved significant responses ( Dillman, 2002; Gordon et al., 2002 ).

Which is better yttrium 90 or 131 I-Lipiodol?

Its relatively high energy emissions give it maximum penetration in human tissue of around 11 mm, arguably rendering it more appropriate than 131 I-lipiodol for use in a large solid organ such as the liver. Issues of radiation protection for patients, visitors, and staff are minimal and easily addressed.