Safety and Feasibility of Interventional Hybrid Fluoroscopy and Nuclear Imaging in the Work-up Procedure of Hepatic Radioembolization

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the safety and feasibility of a novel hybrid nuclear and fluoroscopy C-arm scanner to be used during the work-up procedure of hepatic radioembolization. Materials and Methods: In this prospective first-in-human clinical study, 12 participants (median age, 67 years [range: 37–78 years]; nine [75%] male, three [25%] female) with liver tumors undergoing work-up for yttrium 90 radioembolization were included (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06013774). Work-up angiography and technetium 99m–macroaggregated albumin injection were performed in an angiography suite equipped with a hybrid C-arm that could simultaneously perform fluoroscopy and planar nuclear imaging. Technetium 99m–macroaggregated albumin was injected under real-time hybrid imaging, followed by in-room SPECT imaging. Safety and feasibility were studied by assessing adverse events, technical performance, additional x-ray radiation dose, and questionnaires completed by radiologists and technologists. Results: No adverse events were attributed to the hybrid C-arm scanner. The additional x-ray radiation dose was low (median, 19 Gy ∙ cm2; minimum: 12 Gy ∙ cm2; maximum: 21 Gy ∙ cm2 for participants who completed all imaging steps). The interventional personnel considered use of the hybrid C-arm scanner safe and feasible, although the additional time spent in the intervention room was considered long (median, 64 minutes; minimum: 55 minutes; maximum: 77 minutes for participants who completed all imaging steps). Conclusion: Use of the hybrid C-arm scanner during the work-up procedure of hepatic radioembolization was found to be safe and feasible in this first-inhuman clinical study. Supplemental material is available for this article.