Abstract
Surgical resection has long been considered curative for patients with early-stage
hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, inadequate future liver remnant (FLR) renders
many patients not amenable to surgery. Recently, lobar administration of yttrium-90
(Y90) radioembolization has been utilized to induce FLR hypertrophy while providing
disease control, eventually facilitating resection in patients with hepatic malignancy.
This has been termed “radiation lobectomy (RL).” The concept is evolving, with modified
approaches combining RL and high-dose curative-intent radioembolization (radiation
segmentectomy) to achieve tumor ablation. This article provides an overview of the
concept and applications of RL, including technical considerations and outcomes in
patients with hepatic malignancies.
Keywords
radiation lobectomy - radioembolization - future liver remnant - hepatocellular carcinoma
- interventional radiology