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The Impact of Injection Distance to Bifurcations on Yttrium-90 Distribution in Liver Cancer Radioembolization
Amirtahà Taebi1, Nursultan Janibek2, Roger Goldman3
1Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi.
Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology : JVIR
|March 18, 2022
Summary
Optimizing yttrium-90 (90Y) microsphere delivery in radioembolization requires careful catheter placement. Injecting farther from liver artery bifurcations minimizes variations in 90Y distribution caused by catheter tip movements.
Area of Science:
- Medical Imaging and Simulation
- Interventional Radiology
- Computational Fluid Dynamics
Background:
- Radioembolization uses yttrium-90 (90Y) microspheres for liver cancer treatment.
- Precise delivery of 90Y microspheres is crucial for treatment efficacy and minimizing off-target radiation.
- Catheter position significantly influences microsphere distribution, impacting treatment outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To model the impact of injection site on 90Y microsphere distribution in the liver during radioembolization.
- To evaluate how catheter tip's radial movements affect 90Y distribution.
- To optimize injection strategies for improved treatment precision.
Main Methods:
- Numerical simulations of blood flow in the right hepatic artery (RHA) were performed.
- Six injection scenarios were simulated at 5 mm and 20 mm upstream of the first bifurcation.
- The distribution of 90Y microspheres was calculated based on simulated hemodynamics.
Main Results:
- Injection location significantly altered 90Y distribution in downstream liver vessels.
- A 1.5-mm radial catheter movement at 5 mm upstream caused up to 53% variation in 90Y distribution.
- At 20 mm upstream, radial movement caused only a 9% variation, indicating reduced sensitivity.
Conclusions:
- Injecting microspheres farther from arterial bifurcations improves distribution consistency.
- Strategic catheter placement is key to minimizing treatment variability in radioembolization.
- Computational modeling aids in optimizing interventional procedures for better patient outcomes.
