Hepatic malignancy: Improved delivery methods for treatment with intraarterial Y-90

An improved method of treating hepatic malignancies using Y-90 incorporated into the matrix of glass microsphered injected intraarterially is being evaluated prospectively. Fourteen patients comprising 11 with metastatic colorectal carcinoma, one with carcinoid, one with islet cell tumor, and one with hepatoma were treated in three groups of liver doses of 5,000 rad in group 1, 7,500 rad in group 2, and 10,000 rad in group 3. On mean follow-up of 5 months, the liver disease remained stable, although a temporary increase in size of the metastases occurred at 8 weeks in two patients. Four patients died at 2-4 months from extrahepatic disease unrelated to therapy. There were no complications or side effects. This method of therapy is feasible, safe, and effective