SIRT (Selective Internal Radiation Therapy)
How It Works
SIRT (Selective Internal Radiation Therapy) takes advantage of the unique blood supply of the liver, which is different from that of the rest of the body.
- Most of the blood that feeds healthy liver tissue comes from veins, and it flows from the bowel to the liver.
- On the other hand, most of the blood that feeds tumors in the liver is from arteries.
- Radioactive microspheres are injected through arteries that supply liver tumors.
- Because of their small size and weight, the microspheres are taken by the blood flow to the small blood vessels surrounding the tumor where they lodge.
- Radiation is then delivered directly to the tumor cells in order to destroy them.
- This allows tumors to receive radiation from inside the body in a way that targets the tumors yet aims to protect healthy liver tissue.