Transarterial radioembolization (TARE) is widely used as an effective and safe local treatment option, especially in patients with intermediate and advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. Yttrium-90 ( 90 Y) microspheres, which have been used as the standard radioisotope for many years, enable the delivery of high doses of radiation to tumor tissue due to their pure β-emission properties. Holmium-166 ( 166 Ho) microspheres, on the other hand, offer the advantage of direct visualization via SPECT and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), in addition to β-radiation, due to their γ-photon emission and paramagnetic properties. These features enable personalized dosimetry before and after treatment and provide more accurate predictions in treatment planning.
Harbi et al. (Tue,) studied this question.