Comparison of 166Holmium and 90Yttrium TARE in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treatment

Transarterial radioembolization (TARE) is widely used as an effective and safe local treatment option, especially in patients with intermediate and advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. Yttrium-90 ( 90 Y) microspheres, which have been used as the standard radioisotope for many years, enable the delivery of high doses of radiation to tumor tissue due to their pure β-emission properties. Holmium-166 ( 166 Ho) microspheres, on the other hand, offer the advantage of direct visualization via SPECT and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), in addition to β-radiation, due to their γ-photon emission and paramagnetic properties. These features enable personalized dosimetry before and after treatment and provide more accurate predictions in treatment planning.