Radioembolization / Y-90 Therapy- Best Doctors, Hospitals & Cost of Treatment in India

Treatment overview

Radioembolization, also called Y-90 therapy or transarterial radioembolization (TARE), is a targeted, catheter-based procedure that delivers radiation directly to liver tumours from inside the blood vessels that feed them. Millions of microscopic beads loaded with yttrium-90, a radioactive substance, are injected through a thin catheter placed in the hepatic artery, where they lodge in the tumour's blood supply and emit radiation over a short distance, killing tumour cells while largely sparing healthy liver tissue. It is used for primary liver cancers such as hepatocellular carcinoma, bile duct cancers, and liver metastases from colorectal, neuroendocrine, and other cancers — typically when surgery is not feasible or as a bridge to transplant or resection. The procedure requires a separate planning session (mapping angiogram) one to four weeks before the treatment day; most patients are discharged the same day or after one night. Recovery from the catheter procedure itself is quick, though a period of fatigue and mild discomfort over the liver — known as post-radioembolization syndrome — is common in the first one to two weeks.

Comprehensive Investigations

Estimated cost: ~$1,000 – $1,500

Typical tests for this treatment: Multi-phase CT scan or MRI of the liver (tumour characterisation), Nuclear medicine scan (lung shunt fraction assessment with Tc-99m MAA), Mapping / work-up angiogram (hepatic artery anatomy and bead distribution simulation), CBC, Liver function tests (LFT), Kidney function tests (KFT), Coagulation profile (PT/INR), Tumour markers (AFP for HCC, CEA for colorectal, Chromogranin A for neuroendocrine — as applicable). Done in India before hospital admission. Cost varies with case complexity.

Treatment / Procedure estimate

Estimated cost in India: $20,000 – $30,000

Stay in India

Pre-procedure stay (outside hospital): ~5 days

Hospitalisation: ~4 days

Recovery period (outside hospital): ~12 days recommended

Total stay: approx 21 days

Usually Included in Hospital Package

• Mapping angiogram (work-up procedure including hepatic artery assessment and MAA tracer injection)
• Nuclear medicine scan for lung shunt fraction measurement
• Y-90 treatment procedure — interventional radiology suite charges, catheter, and microspheres
• Interventional radiologist, nuclear medicine specialist, and anesthesiologist fees
• Hospital stay with monitoring (procedure day and post-procedure observation)
• Pre-procedure blood tests and imaging done at the hospital
• Post-procedure medications including anti-nausea, proton pump inhibitor, and pain relief during stay
• Follow-up consultation before discharge

Usually Not Included

• Travel and accommodation
• Visa processing and travel insurance
• Complications requiring additional procedures or prolonged ICU stay
• Repeat Y-90 session if a second lobe or new disease requires treatment
• Systemic therapy (chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or targeted drugs) if prescribed alongside