Concepts and methods for the dosimetry of radioembolisation of the liver with Y-90-loaded microspheres

This article aims at presenting in a didactic way, dosimetry concepts and methods that are relevant for radio-embolization of the liver with 90Y-microspheres. The application of the medical internal radiation dose formalism to radio-embolization is introduced. This formalism enables a simplified dosimetry, where the absorbed dose in a given tissue depends on only its mass and initial activity. This is applied in the single-compartment method, partition model, for the liver, tumour and lung dosimetry, and multi-compartment method, allowing identification of multiple tumours. Voxel-based dosimetry approaches are also discussed. This allows taking into account the non-uniform uptake within a compartment, which translates into a non-uniform dose distribution, represented as a dose–volume histogram. For this purpose, dose–kernel convolution allows propagating the energy deposition around voxel-sources in a computationally efficient manner. Alternatively, local-energy deposition is preferable when the spatial resolution is comparable or larger than the beta-particle path. Statistical tools may be relevant in establishing dose–effect relationships in a given population. These include tools such as the logistic regression or receiver operator characteristic analysis. Examples are given for illustration purpose. Moreover, tumour control probability modelling can be assessed through the linear-quadratic model of Lea and Catcheside and its counterpart, the normal-tissue complication probability model of Lyman, which is suitable to the parallel structure of the liver. The selectivity of microsphere administration allows tissue sparing, which can be considered with the concept of equivalent uniform dose, for which examples are also given. The implication of microscopic deposition of microspheres is also illustrated through a liver toxicity model, even though it is not clinically validated. Finally, we propose a reflection around the concept of therapeutic index (TI), which could help tailor treatment planning by determining the treatment safety through the evaluation of TI based on treatment-specific parameters.