Serious hepatic complications of selective internal radiation therapy with yttrium-90 microsphere radioembolization for unresectable liver tumors

Abstract

Aim: Selective internal radiation therapy with yttrium-90 microsphere radioembolization has been used to treat unresectable liver tumors and its acute toxicity has been well described. Subacute and long-term hepatic complications related to radioembolization however may be underreported in the literature. This retrospective study describes the incidence and sequelae of serious hepatic complications in patients who underwent radioembolization for unresectable liver tumors. Methods: A retrospective review of clinical notes of patients who received radioembolization for unresectable liver tumors from 2001 to 2011 at two Australian institutions was performed to identify those who developed clini..