DONATETACE / TARE & VASCULAR EMBOLIZATION
Trans Arterial Chemo Embolization (TACE)
Trans arterial Chemo Embolization Therapy involves administration of chemotherapy directly to the liver tumor via a catheter. With this technique, the chemotherapy targets the tumor while sparing the patient many side effects of traditional chemotherapy that is given to the whole body. We are routinely performing TACE in primary and metastatic treatment for liver cancers.
TACE and Other Minimally Invasive Interventional Oncology Procedures
The doctors in our department use minimally invasive, image-guided procedures to treat patients with cancer with minimal side effects, complications, and discomfort. We treat certain liver tumours by blocking branches of the tumor feeding branches of hepatic artery in a procedure called embolization, where blood supply to the tumour is cut off. Embolization can be combined with injection of chemotherapy directly to tumours. The process combines the advantages of chemotherapy with those of embolization (Trans Arterial Chemo Embolization) with significantly reduced side effects of chemotherapy and more effective tumour killing.
Radioembolization (SIRT) for liver metastasis
Our interventional radiologists are experts in radioembolization, also known as selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT).
Radioembolization is a type of radiation therapy. Radioembolization is sometimes a good treatment for people with liver metastasis.
SIRT is best for people with:
- Liver metastasis
- Liver metastasis that surgery cannot remove.
- Tumors that keep growing or do not respond to chemotherapy
Radioembolization can sometimes shrink tumors so much that they can subsequently be removed with surgery or ablation.
Research shows that doing SIRT along with chemotherapy may control liver metastasis for longer periods of time. It is also safe for people who already had several treatments for liver metastasis.
How is SIRT done?
It will thread a small catheter (thin flexible tube) in your hepatic artery. Then, they will inject tiny radioactive beads (loaded with yttrium-90 or Y90) in the catheter. These beads deliver a very high dose of radiation directly to the tumor’s blood supply.
SIRT delivers internal radiation therapy very close to the liver tumor over a few days. Because the beads are very close to the tumor, the radiation only affects the area near the tumor. The beads do not harm the part of the liver that does not have a tumor. That liver tissue gets blood from the portal vein.
Other similar angiographic procedures are performed for stopping bleeding from tumours in alimentary tract, lungs and neck. Sometimes they are done before surgery to reduce blood loss at operation or after surgery to stop bleeding in emergency setting.
In addition, other image guided procedures like percutaneous biliary drainage to open biliary obstruction and treat jaundice caused by tumours in gall bladder and liver, percutaneous nephrostomy to drain obstructed urine, drainage of abdominal and chest cavity infectious fluid collections and procedures to relieve cancer related pain etc are routinely carried out.
