Interventional radiology: selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) versus transarterial chemoembolisation (TACE)

Patients who are diagnosed with liver metastases may be treated with surgical resection however depending on the tumour size or locality the patient may have other options. Depending on the hepatic reserve and multifocality of the liver, the patient may be an appropriate candidate for a minimally invasive procedure involving liver tumours to be selectively irradiated to reduce tumour size and potentially increasing survival time and improving quality of life. Prior to the day of the procedure, the patient should have bloods taken, baseline scans performed and informed of the potential risks and complications associated with the procedure. Once the patient has been fasted and admitted in the radiology department, the patient is moved into the angiography suite where the procedure will take place. The interventional radiologist will gain access via a groin puncture to the femoral artery and introduce a sheath, thin catheter and wire in aid of locating the hepatic artery leading directly to the tumour. This technique minimises damage to healthy surrounding tissue as the portal vein supplying normal liver parenchyma is avoided by highlighting blood vessels with radiopaque contrast media. Although both procedures are to treat patients with liver tumours, what are the differences and why is one procedure chosen over the other? While these treatments are not permanent cures for liver cancer, the potential risks and benefits are identified, and post procedure care is taken to ensure patient safety, optimising the patient’s journey while providing positive health outcomes.

Biography :

Grace Moscatelli has completed her Bachelor of Nursing at University of Western Sydney and is currently studying Bachelor of Nursing with Professional Honours Specialising in Anaesthetic and Recovery Nursing at University of Tasmania. She works at a local Sydney hospital in Australia as a Registered Nurse in the Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and PET Department. She has presented at Medical Imaging Nurses Association National Conference in Melbourne, Australia in 2017, Euro Cancer International Conference in Rome, Italy in 2018 and Annual Biomarkers Congress in Osaka, Japan in 2018.

E-mail: grace.moscatelli@health.nsw.gov.au

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