Sequential Y 90 liver radioembolization and portal vein embolization: an additional strategy to downstage liver tumors and to enhance liver hypertrophy before major hepatectomies

Background Yttrium (Y) 90 liver radioembolization (TARE) induces both tumor downsizing and contralateral liver hypertrophy. In this study, we report the preliminary results of a sequential strategy combining Y 90 radioembolization and portal vein embolization (PVE) before major right liver resections. Methods We retrospectively reviewed clinical, radiological, and biological data of 5 consecutive patients undergoing Y 90 TARE-PVE before major right liver resections. Comparison was made with patients undergoing PVE alone or liver venous deprivation (LVD) during the same period. Results Between January 2019 and September 2022, five patients underwent sequential TARE-PVE. Type of resection included the following: right hepatectomy ( n = 1), right hepatectomy + 1 ( n = 2), and right hepatectomy + 1 + 4 ( n = 2) with no postoperative mortality. Volumetric data showed a mean hypertrophy ratio of 30.4% after TARE and an additional 37.4% after sequential PVE. Patients undergoing sequential TARE-PVE had higher hypertrophy ratio ( p = 0.02; p = 0.004), hypertrophy degree ( p = 0.02; p < 0.0001), shorter time to normalize bilirubin ( p = 0.04), and prothrombin time ( p = 0.003; p < 0.0001) compared with patients receiving LVD or PVE. Time from diagnosis to surgery was statistically significant longer in patients undergoing sequential TARE-PVE compared with LVD or PVE (293.4 ± 169.1 vs 54.18 ±18.26 vs 58.62±13.15; p = 0.0008; p = <0.0001). Conclusions This preliminary report suggests that sequential PVE and TARE can represent a safe and an alternative strategy to downstage liver tumors and to enhance liver hypertrophy before major hepatectomies. When compared with PVE and LVD, sequential TARE/PVE takes longer times but achieves some advantages which warrant further evaluation in a larger setting.