Partial Radiation Nephrectomy Using ⁹⁰Y Resin Microspheres: A Treatment Option for Renal Tumors With Malignant Characteristics in Patients Not Candidates for Surgery

Contrast-enhancing renal masses are likely to be malignant in over 90% of cases due to the high diagnostic accuracy of abdominal imaging. In this situation, tumor biopsy is unnecessary and should be managed as a renal cell carcinoma. Resection remains the only potentially curative treatment. However, as in the case herein presented, comorbidities can prevent surgical resection. Radioembolization with Y-90 microspheres is an intra-arterial procedure capable of delivering high doses of radiation to tumors. The present case demonstrates the concept of partial radiation nephrectomy in treating renal tumors with malignant characteristics in patients not amenable to surgery.