Unravelling the distribution of holmium microspheres following transarterial radioembolisation
23-06-2026
LinkedIn
Transarterial radioembolisation (TARE) is a locoregional therapy used in the treatment of both primary and secondary liver malignancies. The procedure involves the intra-arterial injection of radioactive microspheres into the hepatic artery via a microcatheter. These microspheres travel with the arterial blood flow and become lodged in the arterioles due to their size, where they deliver a high local radiation dose to the tumour(s). This therapeutic strategy exploits the unique dual blood supply of the liver: while liver tumours are predominantly supplied by the hepatic artery, healthy liver parenchyma receives most of its blood from the portal vein. This anatomical distinction enables semi-selective targeting of liver tumours via intra-arterial microsphere injection.