# Radioembolisation (TARE / SIRT, yttrium-90)

Source: https://nuclide.cc/technologies/radioembolisation-tare/  
Nuclide record `radioembolisation-tare` (Technology). Data CC BY-NC 4.0, attribute "Data from Nuclide (nuclide.cc)"; commercial use needs a licence.

## TL;DR

Millions of tiny radioactive glass or resin beads are injected into the liver artery, lodging in the tumour and irradiating it from within.

## Summary

Yttrium-90 microspheres (TheraSphere glass, SIR-Spheres resin) deliver beta radiation to hepatic tumours. Randomised trials versus sorafenib in advanced HCC (SARAH, SIRveNIB) were negative for OS but showed better tolerability and response; personalised dosimetry (DOSISPHERE-01) and radiation segmentectomy (LEGACY) established curative-intent use in early-stage disease. Standard alternative to TACE and a bridge or downstaging tool to transplant.

## Fields

- Kind: Technology
- Status: established
- Last checked: 2026-09-07
- Principle: Arterial delivery of 20-60 µm microspheres carrying 90Y (beta emitter, 2.5 mm mean path, 64 h half-life); dose planned from 99mTc-MAA mapping and lung shunt fraction.
- Since: 2002
- Strengths: Outpatient, single session; Effective in portal vein thrombosis where TACE is contraindicated; Radiation segmentectomy can be curative for small tumours
- Limitations: Radioembolisation-induced liver disease; Failed to beat sorafenib on OS in advanced disease; Lung shunting excludes some patients

## Sources

- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selective_internal_radiation_therapy
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selective_internal_radiation_therapy

## Connected records

- isotopes: [Holmium-166](https://nuclide.cc/isotopes/ho-166/), [Yttrium-90](https://nuclide.cc/isotopes/y-90/)
- indications: [Hepatocellular carcinoma](https://nuclide.cc/indications/hcc/), [Intermediate hepatocellular carcinoma (BCLC B)](https://nuclide.cc/indications/hcc-intermediate/), [Neuroendocrine tumours](https://nuclide.cc/indications/neuroendocrine/), [Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours](https://nuclide.cc/indications/pancreatic-net/), [Small intestinal neuroendocrine tumours](https://nuclide.cc/indications/small-intestinal-net/)
- technologies: [Radioligand therapy (beta emitters)](https://nuclide.cc/technologies/radioligand-therapy/), [SPECT & bone scan](https://nuclide.cc/technologies/spect/)
- companies: [Boston Scientific](https://nuclide.cc/companies/boston-scientific/), [BWXT Medical](https://nuclide.cc/companies/bwxt-medical/), [Quirem Medical](https://nuclide.cc/companies/quirem-medical/), [Sirtex Medical](https://nuclide.cc/companies/sirtex/)
- terms: [Dosimetry](https://nuclide.cc/terms/dosimetry/)
- trials: [SARAH and SIRveNIB](https://nuclide.cc/trials/sarah-sirvenib/)
- drugs: [Holmium-166 microspheres](https://nuclide.cc/drugs/ho-166-microspheres/), [Technetium Tc-99m albumin aggregated (MAA)](https://nuclide.cc/drugs/tc-99m-maa/), [Yttrium-90 glass microspheres](https://nuclide.cc/drugs/y-90-glass-microspheres/), [Yttrium-90 resin microspheres](https://nuclide.cc/drugs/y-90-resin-microspheres/)
- fronts: [Radioembolisation](https://nuclide.cc/fronts/f-radioembolisation/)
- pairings: [Radioembolisation (TARE) compared with sorafenib in hepatocellular carcinoma](https://nuclide.cc/pairings/tare-vs-sorafenib-caution/), [Radioembolisation (TARE) with durvalumab in hepatocellular carcinoma](https://nuclide.cc/pairings/tare-plus-durvalumab-hcc/)
- people: [Erik S. Mittra](https://nuclide.cc/people/erik-mittra/)

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