Yttrium Y 90

The Basics

What is Yttrium Y 90?

This therapy is used to treat both primary and metastatic liver tumors.

Brand names for Yttrium Y 90

Na

How Yttrium Y 90 is classified

Radiopharmaceuticals, Yttrium Radioisotopes

Yttrium Y 90 During Pregnancy

Yttrium Y 90 pregnancy category

Category N/ANote that the FDA has deprecated the use of pregnancy categories, so for some medications, this information isn’t available. We still think it’s useful to list historical info, however, given what a common proxy this has been in the past.

What we know about taking Yttrium Y 90 while pregnant

N/A

Taking Yttrium Y 90 While Breastfeeding

What are recommendations for lactation if you're taking Yttrium Y 90?

Information in this record refers to the use of yttrium Y-90 microspheres as therapeutic agents. No information is available on the use of yttrium Y-90 microspheres during breastfeeding. However, little (with resin) or no (with glass) yttrium Y-90 attached to microspheres is available to the systemic circulation of the mother after administration via the hepatic artery, and doses less than 17 GBq do not appear to require withholding of breastfeeding.[1] In a study in which external radiation was measured after 143 administrations (124 resin, 19 glass) to 86 patients, only one exceeded the threshold for concern with close infant contact, using conservative methods.[2] A dose of 185 MBq of yttrium Y-90 citrate injected into the knee for radiosynoviorthesis resulted in high levels of radioactivity in the milk for at least 26 days. The authors recommended cessation of breastfeeding for at least 1 month, which would usually preclude further nursing of the current infant.[3] Mothers concerned about the level of radioactivity in their milk could ask to have it tested at a nuclear medicine facility at their hospital. When the radioactivity is at a safe level she may resume breastfeeding. A method for measuring milk radioactivity and determining the time when a mother can safely resume breastfeeding has been published.[4]

Maternal / infant drug levels

Information in this record refers to the use of yttrium Y-90 microspheres as therapeutic agents. No information is available on the use of yttrium Y-90 microspheres during breastfeeding. However, little (with resin) or no (with glass) yttrium Y-90 attached to microspheres is available to the systemic circulation of the mother after administration via the hepatic artery, and doses less than 17 GBq do not appear to require withholding of breastfeeding.[1] In a study in which external radiation was measured after 143 administrations (124 resin, 19 glass) to 86 patients, only one exceeded the threshold for concern with close infant contact, using conservative methods.[2] A dose of 185 MBq of yttrium Y-90 citrate injected into the knee for radiosynoviorthesis resulted in high levels of radioactivity in the milk for at least 26 days. The authors recommended cessation of breastfeeding for at least 1 month, which would usually preclude further nursing of the current infant.[3] Mothers concerned about the level of radioactivity in their milk could ask to have it tested at a nuclear medicine facility at their hospital. When the radioactivity is at a safe level she may resume breastfeeding. A method for measuring milk radioactivity and determining the time when a mother can safely resume breastfeeding has been published.[4]

Possible effects of Yttrium Y 90 on milk supply

Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.

Possible alternatives to Yttrium Y 90

None listed