Onvida Health is proud to announce their team performed their first Y‑90 liver treatment in April. Y‑90 is a specialized, targeted treatment for liver tumors.
Y-90 uses tiny radioactive beads that are delivered directly to a tumor through the blood vessels that feed it. These beads release radiation over several days, focusing on the tumor itself while minimizing impact of healthy liver tissue around it. Because the radiation only travels a very short distance inside the body, the treatment is precise and effective. Patients who may benefit from Y‑90 are typically referred through the Onvida Health Cancer Center after a liver tumor—either primary or metastatic—has been identified and when surgery isn’t an option.
“For patients who can’t have surgery—often because a tumor is too close to important blood vessels—Y‑90 offers a safe and effective treatment option,” said Dr. Kamalani Hanamaika’i, Interventional Radiologist with Onvida Health, who served as proctor for the Y-90 procedure. “By targeting tumors from the inside, Y‑90 can help shrink or control cancer and, in some cases, open the door to future treatments like surgery or even a liver transplant.”
Treatment happens in two main steps:
- The first requires a careful planning procedure, or “mapping.” During this step, the care team studies the patient’s blood vessels and plans the safest and most effective way to deliver the treatment. Imaging scans help determine the best dose and ensure the beads go only where intended.
- The second step is the actual treatment, which closely follows the mapping process. During this procedure, Y‑90 beads are delivered to the tumor, where they immediately begin working. Follow‑up imaging later helps the team evaluate how well the treatment worked.
Y-90 is minimally invasive and usually completed in one day. Most patients can go home the same day. Compared to traditional radiation or surgery, Y‑90 typically causes fewer side effects and allows for a quicker recovery, helping patients get back to their normal routines sooner.
While Nuclear Medicine and Interventional Radiology are central to this process, successful Y‑90 treatment truly depends on collaboration. Scheduling and billing teams support coordination behind the scenes, imaging teams perform CT or MRI scans, and lab services provide same‑day blood work. Medical physicists, the nuclear pharmacy, and external vendors ensure safety and accuracy.
“This has been more than a year in the making—and it’s a powerful example of teamwork across the health system,” said Dr. Hanamaika’i “This advanced treatment highlights what’s possible when many teams work together with a shared purpose. From planning to delivery, Y‑90 liver treatment reflects collaboration, precision, and a collective commitment to progress for our patients.”
