Selective Internal Radiation Therapy (SIRT) For Liver Cancer Now Available In Siouxland

Until recently, Selective Internal Radiation Therapy (SIRT) was not a local option for cancer patients. SIRT, a type of internal radiotherapy also known as radioembolization, is primarily used to treat inoperable primary or metastatic liver tumors but there is a lot of research happening to determine how additionally can be used. The benefit of SIRT is that the treatment minimizes damage to surrounding healthy tissue and minimizes systemic side effects because the treatment is localized and targeted to the tumor.

The June E. Nylen Cancer Center (JENCC) oncologists work closely with Dr. Neal Khurana, an interventional radiologist at Midlands Clinic, who performs the SIRT as a minimally invasive same-day procedure. Upon a referral to Dr. Khurana, he will meet with the patient and review their imaging and labs to ensure that they are indeed a candidate and that their liver is healthy enough for the procedure.

Prior to the actual internal radiotherapy, that patient will have a mapping angiogram done to plan for the SIRT treatment at the interventional radiology suite at MercyOne Siouxland Medical Center. Using 3D software, Dr. Khurana will use this planning procedure to analyze the size of the tumor as well as the arterial supply to the liver. He will then order a custom dose of radioactive beads specific for that patient. A week later, Dr. Khurana will then deliver the tiny radioactive beads directly to the tumor in the patient’s liver through the exact same entry point in the patient’s wrist or groin through the mapped arteries. The patient will have mild sedation, be monitored for a couple hours following the procedure, and then be able to go home.

“This is a safe treatment, but is extremely radioactive,” says Dr. Khurana. “It’s actually one of the most radioactive treatments in medicine. Once delivered, the radioactive beads do most of their work within the first few hours. The radioactivity is not a danger to those around the patient following the SIRT procedure.”

Side effects of a SIRT treatment are possible fatigue and upset stomach but just for a few days and usually much less than systemic treatments like chemotherapy. Dr. Khurana will continue to work with the JENCC oncologists and follow up with the patient a month following the SIRT to review labs, tumor markers, and re-image the liver.

“It takes a village to offer a comprehensive and multi-disciplinary interventional radiology program that includes specialized procedures like SIRT,” Dr. Khurana states. “I am proud to help invest in the health of this community.”

Talk to your JENCC oncologist to determine if SIRT is right for you.