RADIOYTTRIUM (Y90) FOR THE PALLIATIVE TREATMENT OF EFFUSIONS DUE TO MALIGNANCY

Abstract

• The effectiveness of intracavitary injections of Y⁹⁰in alleviating pleural and peritoneal effusions was tested in 16 patients with cancer. The effusion was completely halted in several cases, and the results were considered favorable in eight. In some the procedure as described did not halt the effusion, and in others the results proved difficult to evaluate. Tracer studies showed that this isotope, a pure beta-emitter with half-life of only 61 hours, remained well confined to the serous cavity and was well distributed within it. The procedure was well tolerated. Neither early nor late side-reactions were observed.