There are major differences between the Oncosil and Sirtex...

There are major differences between the Oncosil and Sirtex devices which makes Oncosil much safer and more effective.

		Oncosil	Sirtex
1	Technology	Injecting radioactive sand particles directly into the middle of pancreatic tumour via endoscopy under ultrasound through the mouth to the stomach wall.	Injecting radioactive polymer beads into blood vessels close to the tumour, through a catheter from a blood vessel in the thigh. Requires critical skill to guide through twists and turns under fluoroscopy (X-ray to video screen) before getting to liver and then to the tumour site.
2	Radioactivity	Inside the tumour.	Radioactive beads stay in blood vessels on the surface of the tumour, some beads missing the tumour might have gone into neighbouring liver tissue.
3	Side Effect	Virtually none. Radioactive sand stay inside the tumour.	Only acting on surface of tumour and none inside. Adjacent tissue also gets irradiated, plus beads missing the target might have gone into neighbouring liver tissue.
4	Application Risk	Very low due to simple application.	Much higher due to long travel of catheter and possible leakage to neighbouring tissue.