Irradiation of the spleen by the intra-arterial administration of90Yttrium microspheres in patients with malignant lymphoma.A preliminary report

Abstract

A technique is described whereby large doses of internal irradiation can be delivered to the spleen. The technique consists of passing a catheter via the femoral artery into the splenic artery and injecting approximately 100 mCi of 90Yttrium microspheres which deliver ± 122,000 rads B to a 150-g spleen. Spleen scans taken before and after the internal irradiation of the spleen presented presumptive evidence that a radiation splenic destruction has been effected. There is a marked diminution and at times absence of pick-up of radioactive chromium-labeled red cells by the spleen. A preliminary report of 13 patients suffering from malignant lymphoma treated by this technique is presented.