What is radioembolization for cancer that has spread to the liver?

In addition to open surgery, other local treatment options for treatment of liver metastases include radiofrequency ablation (RFA), radioembolization, and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT).

Radioembolization involves delivery of localized radiation in the form of tiny spheres into the arteries of the liver. It's sometimes recommended for patients with more extensive liver metastases from colorectal cancer (CRC). A recent randomized controlled trial (RCT) revealed that radioembolization with 5 fluorouracil (5FU) chemotherapy was superior to 5FU alone in delaying the progression of cancer in the liver.