Central Scheduling Phone: 603-663-2180
SIRT Selective Internal Radiation Therapy, also called radio-embolization, is a targetd treatment for liver tumors that delivers millions of tiny radioactive beads called SIR-Spheres Y-90 resin microspheres directly to the liver tumors.
The liver is a common site of primary and metastatic disease from many tumors (cancers). The first-line approach for the treatment of these liver tumors usually begins with chemotherapy. The liver is a very radiosensitive organ, however, so external radiation, that is often used in other parts of the body to treat primary and metastatic cancer, cannot be used. Once a patient's liver metastases progress after first-line chemotherapy a patient is often placed on second-line and then third-line chemotherapy. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) sets national standards for the treatment of cancers.
Selective Internal Radiation Therapy (SIRT) is minimally invasive targeted therapy to treat liver cancer. The IR/IO doctor places catheters (small tubes) from a groin or wrist artery into the liver arteries to provide therapy only to the sites of disease in the liver, not to the rest of the body SIRT is often used to treat liver metastases, commonly from colorectal carcinoma (CRC), hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), neuroendocrine tumors (NET), ocular melanoma (OM), cancer of unknown primary (CUP), breast cancer, and other common tumors. SIRT places small radioactive beads containing yttrium-90 into the liver tumors, which then radiates and kills the tumors. Little radiation travels outside the treated patient's liver and the radioactivity is short acting so the patient is able to go home after the short procedure to be in the comfort of their home with their family. An overnight hospitalization is not necessary.
SIRT in conjunction with systemic chemotherapy has been proven to be efficacious and prolongs patient's lives. It is not a cure, but it provides patients with cancer treatment options with little side effects and good outcomes. If you would like to receive further information about IR/IO and the treatments/procedures that are performed, please call 603-663-4150.
SIRT Selective Internal Radiation Therapy, also called radio-embolization, is a targetd treatment for liver tumors that delivers millions of tiny radioactive beads called SIR-Spheres Y-90 resin microspheres directly to the liver tumors.