Case Study Radioembolization

The patient in this case was an 80 year old female. She was undoing treatment for colon cancer that has metastasized into her liver as well. She had complained of feeling fatigued, as well as abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, and some times getting chills. To prepare for a radioembolization procedure, a patient will first visit with an interventional radiologist to detail the procedure. Liver function testing and kidney function testing will be done with a blood draw to assess if the patient’s system is able to withstand the procedure. Patients should be asked about potential allergies to contrast media, as the exam will require it. The day of the procedure, the patient may be asked to fast for at least six hours prior to the procedure. The patient will be on an NPO status as the procedure nears. The patient should be informed of possible side effects, including abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The patient needs to be informed that after the procedure, they will need to remain in the facility for anywhere between four hours or a day or two for monitoring of their tolerance of the procedure. Another important aspect of patient education prior to the procedure is to ensure that patient knows that
The first stage is an angiogram, which determines if the blood vessels of the liver and leading to the liver are able to withstand the procedure. Contrast is injected into the catheter and is followed via fluoroscopy to the liver. All imaging is acquired via fluoroscopy. If the patient is able to tolerate the Y90 procedure to follow, vessels that the radiologist wants to block from receiving radiation are coiled off and a tracer material is injected into the patient. The patient is taken for a PET scan to determine how much of the tracer material has escaped the liver and gone into the lungs or GI system. If most or all has been retained by the liver, the patient can receive the Y90 radiation