Understanding SIT: A Guide To Selective Internal Radiotherapy

In the field of oncology, advancements in treatment modality continue to expand the options available to those who are diagnosed with cancer. Selective Internal Radiation Therapy (SIT), a targeted, innovative approach to treating cancers of the liver, offers patients improved outcomes and hope. In this article, you will learn about SIT, its applications for cancer treatment, and its potential benefits.

What Does Selective Internal Radiation Therapy Mean?

Selective Internal Radiation Therapy, also called SIRT or SIT, is a minimally invasive procedure used to treat cancers of the liver, primarily hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), as well as metastatic liver lesions. SIT is different from traditional radiation treatment, which uses external radiation. Instead, SIT delivers high doses of radiation to cancerous tumours in the liver.

How Is The SIT Procedure Implemented?

SIT uses radioactive microspheres injected directly into the blood vessels of liver tumours. These microspheres can be loaded with radioactive isotopes, such as yttrium (Y) 90. The microspheres emit radiation that destroys cancerous tumour cells.

Before the SIT treatment, patients undergo an extensive evaluation that includes imaging studies such as angiography and select hepatic arteriography to assess the liver’s anatomy and identify blood vessels feeding tumours. This information allows interventional doctors to target the radiation treatment precisely at the tumours without damaging healthy liver tissue.

In the SIT procedure, a catheter inserted into the femoral artery is guided to the liver artery using fluoroscopic assistance. Once positioned, the microspheres containing Y90 can be injected directly into the blood vessels that supply the liver tumours. The microspheres embed themselves in the blood vessels that surround the tumours. There, they emit radiation that kills the cancerous cells while sparing the healthy tissue.

SIT Applications In Cancer Treatment

Selective Internal Radiation Therapy, or SIT, is used primarily in the treatment of primary liver cancers. This includes hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) but also metastatic liver tumours from other primary cancers like colorectal. SIT can be combined with other therapies like chemotherapy or surgical removal, depending on each patient’s circumstances and goals

Benefits Of The SIT Procedure

SIT may offer benefits to patients suffering from liver cancer.

1. Invasive Minimally: SIT uses a minimally invasive approach that reduces risk and allows faster recovery as compared to conventional surgery.
2. Effective Treatment: A number of clinical studies have shown that SIT can be used to control tumour growth in patients with cancerous liver tissue, improve symptoms, and extend survival.
3. Improving Quality Of Living: By successfully treating liver tumours, SIT may help improve patients’ quality of life by alleviating symptoms such as pain and fatigue associated with advanced liver disease.
4. Option For Inoperable Tumors: A SIT could be an alternative treatment option for inoperable liver cancers or patients who do not qualify for surgical resection of their tumour due to underlying medical problems or the location of the tumour.

Collaborative Care Approach

SIT procedures are successful because of a multidisciplinary approach, which involves collaboration between medical oncologists (radiation oncologists), interventional radiologists (interventional radiologists), and other healthcare professionals. Together, these specialists evaluate the case of each patient, develop a personalized treatment plan, and provide comprehensive healthcare throughout the treatment.

Conclusion

Selective Internal Radiation Therapy (SIT) is a new treatment option for liver cancer. This therapy offers an effective way to destroy cancerous tumours while also minimizing the damage to healthy tissues. Patients should always consult qualified healthcare professionals when deciding on the best treatment options.

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